Final answer:
CH₃COO⁻ / C₂H₃O₂⁻ is the acetate ion, which is the conjugate base of acetic acid, a monoprotic acid involved in equilibrium reactions in solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
CH₃COO⁻ / C₂H₃O₂⁻ is known as acetate. This is the conjugate base that forms when acetic acid (CH₃COOH) donates a proton (hydrogen ion) to water, forming the hydronium ion (H₃O⁺) and the acetate anion (CH₃COO⁻). In solution, this occurs as an equilibrium reaction. Acetic acid is a monoprotic acid, which means it can donate one proton per molecule.
The presence of the carboxyl group (-COOH) in acetic acid defines this molecule as a carboxylic acid. The acetate ion is important in many chemical reactions, especially in the context of biochemistry and metabolism, where it occurs as a key intermediary.