The reaction between acetic acid and ammonium hydroxide
Acetic acid is a weak acid; ammonium hydroxide is also a weak base. When the two meet, there will be a reaction.
The chemical formula of acetic acid is\ (CH_ {3} COOH\), and the chemical formula of ammonium hydroxide is\ (NH_ {4} OH\). When the two are mixed, the hydrogen ion of acetic acid (\ (H ^{+}\)) combines with the hydroxide ion of ammonium hydroxide (\ (OH ^{-}\)) to form water (\ (H_ {2} O\))); while the acetate ion (\ (CH_ {3} COO ^{-}\)) and ammonium ion (\ (NH_ {4 }^{+}\)) to form ammonium acetate (\ (CH_ {3} COONH_ {4}\))). The chemical reaction equation is as follows:
\ (CH_ {3} COOH + NH_ {4} OH\ longrightarrow CH_ {3} COONH_ {4} + H_ {2} O\)
This reaction is a genus of acid-base neutralization. Although acetic acid is a weak acid, when it encounters ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen ions can still combine with hydroxide ions, resulting in reduced acidity and alkalinity of the solution. Ammonium acetate can be ionized in water to form acetate ions and ammonium ions.
From this perspective, the reaction of acetic acid and ammonium hydroxide to form salts and water conforms to the law of acid-base neutralization, which is quite common in the field of chemistry.