Question

why are we adding vinegar to the reaction? remember that vinegar is mostly water and approximately 5 cetic acid (ch3cooh).

Answer 1

Vinegar is added to reactions involving acetic acid to promote its ionization in water to CH3CO2− and H3O+ ions. As a weak acid, acetic acid ionizes only slightly, and when reacted with potassium carbonate, it produces potassium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Vinegar is added to the reaction to facilitate the ionization of acetic acid (CH3COOH) in water. Vinegar contains about 5% acetic acid by volume and when it is added to water, it partially ionizes to form CH3CO2− ions and H3O+ ions. The ionization of acetic acid in water can be represented by the equation: CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + CH3CO2−(aq). However, as a weak acid, acetic acid ionizes only to a small extent, typically around 1% under normal conditions.

The addition of acetic acid to a reaction, as in the case with potassium carbonate, will result in the formation of products such as CH3COOK, CO2 gas, and water. This reaction is often accompanied by effervescence due to the production of CO2 gas. The reaction equation is: 2CH3COOH(aq) + K2CO3(s) → 2CH3CO2K(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l).