Reactions of ethanoic acid

Ethanoic acid, $\ce{CH3COOH}$ , reacts with metals, bases and carbonates to form salts called ethanoates. The other products depend on which type of substance reacts with the acid.

An ethanoate salt contains the ethanoate ion, $\ce{CH3COO^-}$ , combined with a positive ion. The positive ion determines the salt’s name and how many ethanoate ions are needed to balance its charge.

For example, sodium forms sodium ethanoate, $\ce{CH3COONa}$ . A magnesium ion has a charge of $$$2+$$$ , so it combines with two ethanoate ions to form magnesium ethanoate, $\ce{Mg(CH3COO)2}$ .

Ethanoic acid and metals

Ethanoic acid reacts with suitable metals to produce an ethanoate salt and hydrogen gas. For example, magnesium forms magnesium ethanoate:

\ce{Mg + 2CH3COOH -> Mg(CH3COO)2 + H2}

Ethanoic acid and bases

Ethanoic acid reacts with a base to produce an ethanoate salt and water. For example, sodium hydroxide forms sodium ethanoate:

\ce{CH3COOH + NaOH -> CH3COONa + H2O}

Ethanoic acid and carbonates

Ethanoic acid reacts with a carbonate to produce an ethanoate salt, water and carbon dioxide gas. For example, sodium carbonate forms sodium ethanoate:

\ce{2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 -> 2CH3COONa + H2O + CO2}