In addition to water, an aqueous solution of acetic acid shall contain a mixture of
Explanation:
Like most acids [tex]\text{H} \text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2 [/tex] combine with water molecules and ionizes produce hydronium ions and its conjugate base, [tex] {\text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2}^{-} [/tex], when dissolved to form an aqueous solution.
[tex]\text{H} \text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2 \; (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O}\; (l) \rightleftharpoons {\text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2 \; (aq)}^{-} \; (aq) + {\text{H}_3\text{O}}^{+} \; (aq) [/tex]
However the ionization process does not proceed to completion for this weak electrolyte; a majority of [tex]\text{H} \text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2[/tex] would stay in the undissociated form while only trace amounts of hydronium ions and [tex] {\text{C}_2\text{H}_3 \text{O}_2}^{-} [/tex] are present in the solution.
