Question

Acetic acid and water react to form hydronium cation and acetate anion, like this:

HCH3CO2(aq) + H2O → H3O+(l)(aq) + CH3CO2^-(aq)

Imagine 226 mmol of CH3CO2- are added to a flask containing a mixture of HCH3CO2, H2O, H3O + and CH3CO2- at equilibrium.

Required:
What is the rate of the reverse reaction before any CH3CO2^- has t:een added to the flask?

Answer 1

The rate of the reverse reaction before any addition of CH3CO2- is zero

Step-by-step explanation:

When the reaction is in equilibrium:

HCH3CO2(aq) + H2O ⇄ H3O+(l)(aq) + CH3CO2^-(aq)

The reaction quotient, Q = Ka and no more products or reactants are produced because their concentrations are in the right proportion.

Now, as no reaction occurs,

The rate of the reverse reaction before any addition of CH3CO2- is zero