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How does changing the pH of a solution affect the equilibrium position of a weak acid-base reaction? Provide an example to support your answer.

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Changing the pH of a solution can affect the equilibrium position of a weak acid-base reaction by shifting the equilibrium either towards the formation of more products or more reactants, depending on whether the pH is increased or decreased. This can be explained using Le Chatelier's principle, which states that if a stress is applied to a system at equilibrium, the system will adjust to counteract the stress and re-establish equilibrium.In the case of a weak acid-base reaction, the equilibrium can be represented by the following general equation:HA  aq  + H2O  l   H3O+  aq  + A-  aq Here, HA represents the weak acid, H2O is water, H3O+ is the hydronium ion, and A- is the conjugate base of the weak acid.If the pH of the solution is increased  i.e., the solution becomes more basic , the concentration of H3O+ ions decreases. According to Le Chatelier's principle, the equilibrium will shift to the left to counteract this decrease in H3O+ concentration, resulting in the formation of more reactants  HA  and less products  A- .On the other hand, if the pH of the solution is decreased  i.e., the solution becomes more acidic , the concentration of H3O+ ions increases. In this case, the equilibrium will shift to the right to counteract the increase in H3O+ concentration, leading to the formation of more products  A-  and less reactants  HA .Example:Consider the weak acid-base reaction involving acetic acid  CH3COOH  and water:CH3COOH  aq  + H2O  l   H3O+  aq  + CH3COO-  aq If the pH of the solution is increased, the concentration of H3O+ ions decreases, and the equilibrium shifts to the left, resulting in the formation of more acetic acid  CH3COOH  and less acetate ions  CH3COO- .Conversely, if the pH of the solution is decreased, the concentration of H3O+ ions increases, and the equilibrium shifts to the right, leading to the formation of more acetate ions  CH3COO-  and less acetic acid  CH3COOH .

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