Step 1: Understand that acetic acid is a chemical compound with the formula CH3COOH.
Step 2: When acetic acid is dissolved in water, it can partially dissociate into ions.
Step 3: The dissociation of acetic acid produces hydrogen ions (H+) and acetate ions (CH3COO-).
Step 4: However, not all acetic acid molecules dissociate; many remain as undissociated CH3COOH.
Step 5: Therefore, in a solution of acetic acid, the primary species present is the undissociated acetic acid (CH3COOH), along with some dissociated ions (H+ and CH3COO-).
