Question

If acetic acid is mixed with sodium acetate, then H⁺ ion concentration will be:
A. Increased
B. Decreased
C. Remains unaffected
D. pH decreases

Answer 1

Hint: A substance's pH value defines whether it has an acidic or basic character. It is determined using the pH scale. It is acidic in nature if the concentration of H⁺ ions falls, and basic in nature if the concentration of H⁺ ions rises. If the pH value rises, the pH value also rises, indicating that it is acidic in nature.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
The pH is a number that indicates a substance's chemical state in nature. It tells us how acidic and basic a substance is to a certain degree. Additionally, it controls the substance's reactivity, applications, and behaviour.

Based on a scale that goes from 0 to 14, the acidity and basicity of a substance are determined. If the pH of a substance falls below the value of 7, it is said to be acidic in nature, and if it falls above 7, it is said to be basic. A pH value of 7 on the pH scale determines that the substance is neutral in nature.

Therefore, if the ion concentration falls, the pH value also decreases, indicating that it is acidic in nature; conversely, if the ion concentration increases, the pH value also rises, indicating that it is basic in nature.
For this question
CH₃COONa can be ionised in the form:
CH₃COONa → CH₃COO^- + Na⁺

When sodium acetate is added to an acetic acid solution, the amount of H+ ions reduces as the amount of salt in the buffer solution increases.
Hence the correct option is B.

Note: An acidic buffer is created when a weak acid and its salt are added to a solution. A basic buffer is created when a weak base and its salt are added to a solution. The pH level of blood is between 7.35 and 7.40. Although a pH value above 14 and a negative pH are both possible, the measuring scale only measures values between 0 and 14.