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If methyl ammonium (CH₃NH₃⁺, pKa = 10.6) is dissolved in a solution with pH 7, what happens?

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Final answer:

Methyl ammonium, with a pKa of 10.6, acts as a weak acid in a solution with pH 7. It will donate protons to water, resulting in a slightly acidic solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

When methyl ammonium (CH₃NH₃⁺, pKa = 10.6) is dissolved in a solution with pH 7, the pH of the solution indicates that the solution is neutral while the pKa value suggests that methyl ammonium is a weak acid. Since the pH of the solution is lower than the pKa, it means the methyl ammonium will donate protons to the water, resulting in a solution that is slightly acidic. This process is an example of an acid-base reaction where the weak acid partially dissociates in water to create hydronium ions (H3O+), thereby increasing the acidity of the solution.

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