Which statement best accounts for the pH being greater than 7 at the equivalence point when 0.100 M acetic acid is titrated with 0.100 M NaOH?
a) Because Na+ ions hydrolyze water to form NaOH, creating OH−.
b) A slight excess of NaOH remains after neutralization, so the solution is basic.
c) The CH3COO− ions formed hydrolyze water to produce OH−, giving a basic solution.
d) Since CH3COOH is a weak acid, it cannot be fully neutralized, leaving unreacted base and thus a pH above 7.