Question

What happens to the solution if sodium acetate is added to a solution of acetic acid?

Answer 1

Answer:if sodium acetate is added to a solution of acetic acid, A BUFFER SOLUTION IS FORMED.

Step-by-step explanation:

A buffer solution is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base or weak base and its conjugate acid. These solutions resist a change in pH when small amounts of a strong acid or a strong base are added.

for example, Here, A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate ----CH3COOH + CH3COONa) which is an an example of a buffer consists of a weak acid and its salt. The initial pH of an acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer solution has almost same pH when compared to the pH of deionized water. When small quantities of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide are added to this solution, this buffer solution tend to resists change

This mixture is a buffer solution because it contains both the weak acid and its salt which acts to keep the hydronium ion concentration and the pH constant by the addition of either a small amount of a strong acid or a strong base. for example by addition of sodium hydroxide will cause the hydroxide ions to react with the few hydronium ions present, also with addition of more of the acetic acid with water the hydronium ion concentration will be restored almost to its original value.

Answer 2

The pH of the solution increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Acetic acid is a weak acid, this means it does not dissociate completely in aqueous solution.

Sodium acetate on the other hand is a salt which dissociates to give acetate ions ad sodium ion.

Also, sodium acetate is the conjugate base of acetic acid. A mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base is a buffer solution.

The mixture leads to a greater concentration of acetate ion, CH3COO-. shere is an increase in the pH of the solution.

So, when you are adding sodium acetate to a solution of acetic acid, concentration of acetate anions increases. Thus, there will be a decrease of hydronium ions resulting in pH increase.