Chapter 16: Problem 107
Predict whether the following solutions are acidic, basic, or nearly neutral: (a) \(\mathrm{NaBr},(\mathrm{b}) \mathrm{K}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{3},(\mathrm{c}) \mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{NO}_{2}\), (d) \(\mathrm{Cr}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{3}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) Neutral, (b) Basic, (c) Slightly acidic, (d) Acidic.
Step by step solution
01
- Determine the Nature of the Salt
To predict whether the solution is acidic, basic, or neutral, identify the salt's component ions and determine the nature of the parent acid and base that form these ions. For example,
(a) NaBr: Derived from NaOH (strong base) and HBr (strong acid).
(b) K鈧係O鈧: Derived from KOH (strong base) and H鈧係O鈧 (weak acid).
(c) NH鈧凬O鈧: Derived from NH鈧凮H (weak base) and HNO鈧 (weak acid).
(d) Cr(NO鈧)鈧: Derived from Cr(OH)鈧 (weak base) and HNO鈧 (strong acid).
02
- Apply the Nature of Parent Acid and Base
Under the rule of thumb:
- Salts from a strong acid and strong base produce neutral solutions.
- Salts from a strong base and weak acid produce basic solutions.
- Salts from a strong acid and weak base produce acidic solutions.
(a) NaBr is neutral since both the acid and base are strong.
(b) K鈧係O鈧 is basic due to its derivation from a strong base and weak acid.
(c) NH鈧凬O鈧 forms a slightly acidic solution as the ammonium ion (from weak base) hydrolyzes slightly more than the nitrite ion.
(d) Cr(NO鈧)鈧 is acidic since it's derived from a strong acid and weak base.
03
- Conclusion for Each Solution
Summarize whether each solution is acidic, basic, or neutral based on previous deductions.
(a) NaBr: Neutral.
(b) K鈧係O鈧: Basic.
(c) NH鈧凬O鈧: Slightly acidic.
(d) Cr(NO鈧)鈧: Acidic.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
pH of Solutions
The pH of a solution is a measure of how acidic or basic it is on a scale from 0 to 14. Acids have a pH less than 7, bases have a pH greater than 7, and neutral solutions have a pH of exactly 7.
Understanding the pH helps us identify the nature of a solution, which is crucial in chemistry as it dictates the chemical reactions that might occur.
When we dissolve salts in water, they can potentially affect the pH of the solution.
- Salts formed from strong acids and strong bases, like NaBr, typically do not change the neutral pH of water, thus, the solution remains neutral.
- Salts from weak acids or bases, however, can impact the pH more significantly, leading to either acidic or basic solutions. This adjustment occurs due to the hydrolysis of ions in the water.
Ion Hydrolysis
Ion hydrolysis is an essential concept in acid-base chemistry as it explains how the ions from dissolved salts interact with water. When salts dissolve, their constituent ions can react with water molecules in a process called hydrolysis.
- Hydrolysis is key in determining the solution's pH when weak acids or bases are present.
- For instance, NH鈧勨伜 ions from NH鈧凬O鈧 can react with water, generating H鈦 ions and slightly acidifying the solution.
Here's how it works:
1. The ion from a weak acid/base can bond with water, forming either H鈦 or OH鈦 ions.
2. These new ions change the balance of ions in the solution, resulting in an acidic or basic environment.
In simple terms, ion hydrolysis helps to explain why solutions of salts might not always be neutral, even if made from acids and bases. It's this ionic interaction that leads to pH variations.
Salt Solutions
A salt solution is formed when a salt (an ionic compound) dissolves in water. Salts can arise from various combinations of acids and bases, influencing the resultant solution's acidity or basicity.
- In general, when a salt dissolves, it splits into its individual ions. These ions can then interact with water molecules.
Depending on the nature of the parent acid and base:
- Salts from a strong acid and strong base will create neutral solutions. For example, NaBr is neutral because both NaOH and HBr are strong, canceling each other's effects.
- Salts from strong bases and weak acids, like K鈧係O鈧, form basic solutions as the SO鈧兟测伝 ion readily accepts H鈦 ions from water, creating OH鈦 ions.
- The opposite is encountered with salts from strong acids and weak bases, making the solution acidic, like Cr(NO鈧)鈧, since NO鈧冣伝 doesn鈥檛 significantly neutralize any excess H鈦 produced by Cr鲁鈦.
Strong and Weak Acids and Bases
In acid-base chemistry, understanding the strength of an acid or base is crucial as it influences the behavior of the salt solutions formed by these compounds.
- **Strong Acids and Bases:** Completely dissociate into ions in water. This characteristic means they have a significant, predictable effect on pH. Examples include HBr and NaOH.
- **Weak Acids and Bases:** Only partially dissociate in water, resulting in increased ion availability for reactions, like hydrolysis, affecting the overall pH. NH鈧凮H and H鈧係O鈧 are examples, leading to significant pH changes when included in salt formulations.
The concept of dissociation strength explains why the origin of a salt鈥攆rom what acid and base it was formed鈥攄irectly impacts whether its solution is acidic, basic, or neutral. The predictable nature of strong compounds and the variability of weak ones guide chemists in determining the likely pH outcome of a mixed solution.