√ Determining the pH of Salt Solutions Explained with Fair Examples

Описание: 📢 Receive Comprehensive Mathematics Practice Papers Weekly for FREE 😊
Click this link to get: ▶️▶️▶️ https://iitutor.com/email-list/ ◀️◀️◀️

Salts can be classified as basic, acidic or neutral. Basic salts contain the conjugate base (X-) of a weak acid(HX) that hydrolyses in water to produce hydroxide ions. Basic salts are formed when a weak acid is neutralised by a strong base. Acidic salts contain the conjugate acid of a weak base that hydrolyses in water to produce hydronium ions. Acidic salts are formed when a weak base is neutralised by a strong acid. Neutral salts contain conjugate acids and bases that interact with water to produce approximately ions and thus do not change the pH of the water to any great extent.

Neutral salts are formed when strong acids and strong bases or weak acids and weak bases neutralise each other. If a salt formed from a strong acid and strong base is neutral, for example. Sodium chloride is made from the strong base sodium hydroxide and the strong acid hydrochloric acid. When sodium chloride dissolves in water, ions are formed. Sodium ions are attracted to hydroxide ions, but this forms a strong base (NaOH) that ionises completely so the ions stay in solutions. Hydrogen ions are attracted to chloride ions, but this forms a strong acid (HCl) that ionises completely.

The concentration of hydrogen ions equals the concentration of hydroxide ions. The solution is neutral. A weak acid and weak base will also form a neutral solution. If a salt formed from a weak acid and a strong base is basic, for example. Sodium acetate is formed from the strong base sodium hydroxide and the weak acid acetic acid. When sodium acetate dissolves in water, the ions present are sodium ions (Na+), acetate ions (CH3COO-), hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). Hydrogen ions are attracted to acetate ions, forming acetic acid. This is a weak acid; it only ionises slightly. Sodium ions are attracted to hydroxide ions, forming sodium hydroxide, a strong base that ionises completely. Thus the solution contains more hydroxide than hydrogen ions and is basic.