A water solution of sodium acetate is basic because ... a. the conjugate base of the acetate ion is a strong base. b. sodium acetate is only weakly ionized. c. the acetate ion acts as a Bronsted-Lowry base in a reaction with water. d. A water solution of sodium acetate is acidic.

The correct answer is c. the acetate ion acts as a Bronsted-Lowry base in a reaction with water.

Explanation:

Sodium acetate (NaCH₃COO) dissociates in water to give Na⁺ and CH₃COO⁻ ions as follows:

NaCH₃COO (s) → Na⁺ (aq) + CH₃COO⁻ (aq)

The acetate ion (CH₃COO⁻) is the conjugated base of acetic acid (CH₃COOH). Acetic acid is a weak acid, so the acetate ion will try to regenerate the weak acid. For this, it will acept a proton (acting as a Bronsted-Lowry base) from water to form acetic acid. As result, OH⁻ is released and the solution turns basic:

CH₃COO⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇄ CH₃COOH (aq) + OH⁻ (aq)