Chapter 3, Problem 76TQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The $\text{p}{K}_{\text{a}}$ value of acetic acid is smaller or larger in the absence of water.

Introduction:

The acetic acid ionizes under normal conditions. The departing protons and acetate ion are solvated by water molecules. The $\text{p}{K}_{\text{a}}$ value of a compounddepends upon its dissociation in the water. Acetic acid is a weak acid, so it dissociates in water to form conjugate base acetate $\left({\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{COO}}^{\text{-}}\right)$ .