A student prepares a series of buffer solutions containing ethanoic acid, \(\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}\), and sodium ethanoate, \(\text{CH}_3\text{COONa}\), keeping the total concentration of the conjugate pair constant at \(0.20\text{ M}\). The \(\text{p}K_a\) of \(\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}\) is \(4.74\). Which of the following best explains why the buffer solution with \(\text{pH} = 4.74\) has the greatest capacity to resist \(\text{pH}\) changes upon the addition of equal amounts of either strong acid or strong base?