Question

What is the dissociation reaction of sodium acetate in water?

Answer 1

Well of course there is the ionization reaction....

Explanation:

`H_3C-CO_2^(-)Na^(+)(s)stackrel(H_2O)rarrH_3C-CO_2^(-) + Na^(+)`

But possibly you mean the acid-base reaction that acetate ion, as the conjugate base of a weak acid, undergoes...

`H_3C-CO_2^(-) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3C-CO_2H + HO^-`

...and the extent of this equilibrium could be very easily quantified...of course this is an association reaction....

Answer 2

Sodium acetate would dissociate in water to give `Na^+` and `CH_3COO^-` ions which would slightly associate in water to give a little `OH^-`.

`CH_3COO^(-)(aq) + H_2O(l) rarr CH_3COOH(aq) + OH^(-)(aq)`

Explanation:

Water is a polar molecule because Oxygen has a higher electronegativity than Hydrogen. As a result, Oxygen has a `delta^-` charge and Hydrogen has a `delta^+` charge.

Water consists of `H^+` and `OH^-` ions.

Sodium acetate is an ionic compound formed from `Na^+` and `CH_3COO^-` ions, which dissociates in water due to its polarity.