Chapter 7, Problem 31E

Consider the reaction of acetic acid in water ${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{H(}aq{\text{)+H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O(}l\text{)}\rightleftharpoons {\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}{}^{\text{–}}\text{(}aq{\text{)+H}}_{\text{3}}{\text{O}}^{\text{+}}\text{(}aq\text{)}$ where $K_{\text{a}}\text{=1}{\text{.8×10}}^{\text{–5}}$ .

a. Which two bases are competing for the proton?
b. Which is the stronger base?
c. In light of your answer to part b, why do we classify the acetate ion ${\text{(CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}{}^{\text{–}}\text{)}$ as a weak base? Use anappropriate reaction to justify your answer.