NaC₂H₃O₂ (aq) ⇌ Na⁺ (aq) + C₂H₃O₂⁻ (aq)
Here's what the equation means:
* NaC₂H₃O₂ (aq): Sodium acetate dissolved in water (aqueous solution).
* Na⁺ (aq): Sodium cation (positively charged ion) dissolved in water.
* C₂H₃O₂⁻ (aq): Acetate anion (negatively charged ion) dissolved in water.
* ⇌: This double arrow indicates that the reaction is an equilibrium. This means the reaction can proceed in both directions, with sodium acetate dissociating into its ions and ions combining to form sodium acetate.
Key points:
* Sodium acetate is a strong electrolyte, meaning it completely dissociates into ions when dissolved in water.
* The acetate ion (C₂H₃O₂⁻) is the conjugate base of acetic acid (CH₃COOH), a weak acid.
* The solution of sodium acetate will be slightly basic due to the hydrolysis of acetate ions, which can accept protons from water molecules.
