The reaction of ammonium acetate with water
Ammonium acetate can react in water. The reason is: ammonium acetate in the environment of water, ammonium ions and acetate ions will interact with hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions ionized by water respectively.
Ammonium ions are acidic and will bind hydroxide ions ionized by water, causing the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution to increase relatively; acetate ions are alkaline and will bind hydrogen ions ionized by water, causing the concentration of hydroxide ions in the solution to increase relatively. These two effects interact with each other, and the final pH of the solution depends on the relative degree of hydrolysis between the two.
When the degree of hydrolysis of the two is similar, the solution is nearly neutral; if the degree of hydrolysis of ammonium ion is stronger than that of acetate ion, the solution is acidic; conversely, if the degree of hydrolysis of acetate ion is stronger than that of ammonium ion, the solution is alkaline. This is the approximate situation of the reaction of ammonium acetate with water.