Question

What will happen to pH of CH₃COOH solution if a few drops of NaHCO₃, solution are slowly added to it?

Answer 1

• CH₃COOH solution is acidic in nature and has low pH. NaHCO₃ solution is basic in nature and has more pH.
• The addition of a few drops of NaHCO₃ solution to CH₃COOH solution leads to the formation of a salt sodium acetate $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\right)$

${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

• So, due to the formation of salt sodium acetate, the solution will be neutralized by the neutralization reaction,
• A neutralization reaction is the reaction of acid and base to form salt and water.

Hence, the pH of CH₃COOH solution will increase to 7 with the addition of a few drops of NaHCO₃, solution.