What is the dissociation reaction of acetic acid in water?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 25, 2018

#HOAc(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsAcO^(-) + H_3O^+#...

where #HOAc(aq)="HO(O=)CCH"_3#...

Explanation:

And we can quantify this provided we are supplied with the equilibrium constant....

#K_a=([H_3O^+][""^(-)OAc])/([HOAc])#

...where #K_a=10^(-4.76)=1.74xx10^-5#

Acetic acid is thus a WEAK acid, where the given equilibrium lies to the LEFT, as we face the page.

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