CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

(c) CH3COOH(aq) + NH3(aq) --> CH3CONH2(aq) + H2O(l)
Why isn't it an acid-base reaction?

An acid base reaction happens when a proton (H+) gets transferred from one to the other. In this case a hydroxide (OH-) was transferred and replaced with an NH2 bond. The CH3COOH did not donate a proton to NH3, it exchanged a bond that had a H atom in it but that is not the same as a proton transfer. Hope this helps!