the resulting carboxylate anion that forms when propanoic acid reacts with a strong base.
The carboxylate anion that forms when propanoic acid reacts with a strong base is propanoate ion. It is represented by the formula CH3CH2COO-.
When propanoic acid (CH3CH2COOH) reacts with a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it undergoes neutralization and forms the corresponding carboxylate anion. Here are the steps involved in this reaction:
Step 1: The strong base, NaOH, dissociates in water to form sodium ions (Na+) and hydroxide ions (OH-):
NaOH → Na+ + OH-
Step 2: The carboxylic acid, propanoic acid, also dissociates in water to release a hydrogen ion (H+) and an acetate ion (CH3CH2COO-):
CH3CH2COOH → CH3CH2COO- + H+
Step 3: The hydroxide ion (OH-) from the strong base reacts with the hydrogen ion (H+) from the carboxylic acid to form water (H2O):
OH- + H+ → H2O
Step 4: The remaining ions are the sodium ion (Na+) from the strong base and the acetate ion (CH3CH2COO-) from the carboxylic acid, which combine to form the resulting carboxylate anion:
Na+ + CH3CH2COO- → CH3CH2COONa
So, the resulting carboxylate anion when propanoic acid reacts with a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide, is CH3CH2COONa (sodium propanoate).