Complete and balance each of the following equations for acid-base reactions.
HC2H3O2(aq)+NaOH(aq)→
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The given equation represents the reaction between acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is an acid-base neutralization reaction. Here’s the balanced equation:
Unbalanced equation:
[ \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2(aq) + \text{NaOH}(aq) \rightarrow ]
Balanced equation:
[ \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2(aq) + \text{NaOH}(aq) \rightarrow \text{NaC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2(aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) ]
Explanation:
- Identifying the Acid and Base:
- Acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂) is the acid. It donates a proton (H⁺) in the reaction.
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the base. It dissociates in water to form hydroxide ions (OH⁻), which accept a proton.
- Reaction Mechanism:
In an acid-base neutralization reaction, the proton (H⁺) from the acid reacts with the hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from the base to form water (H₂O). The remaining components form a salt. In this case, acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂) donates a proton to the hydroxide ion, resulting in water, while the sodium ion (Na⁺) combines with the acetate ion (C₂H₃O₂⁻) to form sodium acetate (NaC₂H₃O₂), the salt produced in this reaction. - Balanced Chemical Equation:
- On the left side, we have one molecule of acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂) and one molecule of sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
- On the right side, we have the products of the reaction: sodium acetate (NaC₂H₃O₂) and water (H₂O).
- Both the atoms and charges are balanced. The sodium (Na⁺) from NaOH pairs with the acetate ion (C₂H₃O₂⁻) from acetic acid, and the hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from NaOH combines with the proton (H⁺) from acetic acid to form water.
- Ionization in Solution:
When acetic acid and sodium hydroxide are dissolved in water, they dissociate into ions:
- Acetic acid dissociates as: (\text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2 \rightleftharpoons \text{H}^+ + \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^-)
- Sodium hydroxide dissociates completely as: (\text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{Na}^+ + \text{OH}^-)
- Overall Reaction:
The reaction is essentially the combination of the proton ((\text{H}^+)) from the acetic acid with the hydroxide ion ((\text{OH}^-)) from sodium hydroxide to form water, and the remaining ions form the salt.
The complete and balanced equation for the neutralization is:
[
\text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2(aq) + \text{NaOH}(aq) \rightarrow \text{NaC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2(aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l)
]
This represents a typical acid-base neutralization, where an acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water.