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Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria
Chapter 16, Problem 20a

Write an equation for the reaction in which H2C6H7O5-1aq2 acts as a base in H2O1l2.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acid-Base Theory

Acid-base theory explains the behavior of acids and bases in chemical reactions. According to the Brønsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a proton donor, while a base is a proton acceptor. In the context of the given question, H2C6H7O5- acts as a base by accepting a proton (H+) from water, which is crucial for writing the correct reaction equation.
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Dissociation of Water

Water (H2O) can dissociate into hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions. This equilibrium is essential in acid-base reactions, as it provides the protons that acids donate and the hydroxide ions that bases can interact with. Understanding this dissociation helps in predicting the products of the reaction when H2C6H7O5- acts as a base.
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Chemical Equation Representation

A chemical equation represents the reactants and products of a chemical reaction. It must be balanced to reflect the conservation of mass. In this case, writing the equation for the reaction involves showing H2C6H7O5- accepting a proton from water, resulting in the formation of H3O+ and the conjugate acid of H2C6H7O5-, which is essential for accurately depicting the reaction.
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