Is sodium acetate (CH3COONa) salt; Neutral Basic Acidic
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Sodium acetate (CH3COONa) is a basic salt.
When sodium acetate dissolves in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and acetate ions (CH3COO⁻). To understand why sodium acetate is basic, we need to consider the behavior of its ions in solution:
- Sodium ion (Na⁺): Sodium is a Group 1 alkali metal ion. It does not react with water to form an acidic or basic solution. It remains neutral in solution because it does not hydrolyze (react with water).
- Acetate ion (CH3COO⁻): The acetate ion is the conjugate base of acetic acid (CH3COOH). When acetate ions are dissolved in water, they react with water molecules in a process called hydrolysis: CH₃COO⁻+H₂O⇌CH₃COOH+OH⁻\text{CH₃COO⁻} + \text{H₂O} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH₃COOH} + \text{OH⁻}CH₃COO⁻+H₂O⇌CH₃COOH+OH⁻ The acetate ion accepts a proton (H⁺) from water, producing hydroxide ions (OH⁻). The presence of OH⁻ ions increases the pH of the solution, making it basic.
Therefore, sodium acetate, as a salt formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (CH3COOH), creates a solution with a pH greater than 7. The conjugate base (acetate) dominates in this case, leading to an increase in hydroxide ions and the basic nature of the salt.
In summary, sodium acetate in water forms a basic solution due to the hydrolysis of acetate ions, which produces hydroxide ions.
