WAEC Chemistry 2013 Paper

Concept:Ethanoic acid is a carboxylic acid that neutralises a base like sodium hydroxide to form a salt and water.Explanation:The balanced chemical equation is:$$\mathrm{CH_3COOH} + \mathrm{NaOH} \rightarrow \mathrm{CH_3COONa} + \mathrm{H_2O}$$Ethanoic acid donates a proton to the hydroxide ion from sodium hydroxide.This produces the ethanoate ion, $\mathrm{CH_3COO}^-$.The ethanoate ion then combines with the sodium ion, $\mathrm{Na}^+$, to form sodium ethanoate.Water is also formed during this neutralisation reaction.However, the major product with significant chemical identity is the salt, sodium ethanoate.Answer:B. sodium ethanoate