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Which of the following is the overall reaction that takes place when a strong acid is added to a buffer containing equal amounts of acetic acid and acetate ions? A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2024 - Paper 1
Question 16
Which of the following is the overall reaction that takes place when a strong acid is added to a buffer containing equal amounts of acetic acid and acetate ions? A. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which of the following is the overall reaction that takes place when a strong acid is added to a buffer containing equal amounts of acetic acid and acetate ions? A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2024 - Paper 1
Step 1
C. CH₃COO⁻ + H₃O⁺ → CH₃COOH + H₂O
Answer
When a strong acid (H₃O⁺) is added to a buffer solution containing acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and acetate ions (CH₃COO⁻), the acetate ions will react with the hydronium ions. The acetate ions, which act as a weak base, will neutralize the added strong acid.
In this reaction, the acetate ion (CH₃COO⁻) accepts a proton from the hydronium ion to form acetic acid:
This demonstrates the buffering action of the solution, as the pH change is minimized when the buffer system reacts with the strong acid.