On the Acidity and Alkalinity of Ammonium Acetate
Many people have discussed whether ammonium acetate is an acid or alkali that shows its properties. Ammonium acetate is a common salt in chemistry.

Its composition is composed of ammonium ion ($NH_ {4 }^{+}$） and acetate ion ($CH_ {3} COO ^ {-} $). Ammonium ions can be hydrolyzed in water, and the reaction formula is $NH_ {4 }^{+} + H_ {2} O\ rightleftharpoons NH_ {3} · H_ {2} O + H ^ {+} $. In this process, ammonium ions bind to the hydroxide ions of water molecules, so that the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution increases, showing an acidic trend.

Acetate ions can also be hydrolyzed in water. The hydrolysis reaction formula is $CH_ {3} COO ^{-} + H_ {2} O\ rightleftharpoons CH_ {3} COOH + OH ^ {-} $. This is the tendency of acetate ions to bind hydrogen ions of water molecules, resulting in an increase in the concentration of hydroxide ions in the solution, which is obviously alkaline.

But what is the nature of ammonium acetate solution? It depends on the degree of hydrolysis of the two. It can be seen from chemical theory and experimental research that the acidity of acetic acid is similar to the alkaline strength of ammonia monohydrate, so the degree of hydrolysis of ammonium ions and acetate ions is also similar. Therefore, the concentration of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in the solution is nearly equal, and the ammonium acetate solution is neutral.

In summary, although ammonium acetate is composed of hydrolyzable ions, its degree of hydrolysis of anions and cations is equivalent, so the solution is neither acidic nor alkaline, but neutral.