Question

Please explain why:

1. CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ and Cl^- together will react acidic

2. (CH₃)₄N⁺ and Cl^- together will react neutral

Answer 1

1. CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ and Cl^- together will react acidic.

Ans :- In salt CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ Cl^- :-

A strong acid has a weak conjugate base and a weak base has a strong conjugate acid. Since, CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ is a conjugate acid of weak base CH₃CH₂NH₂ , therefore CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ will be the stronger acid. Similarly, Cl^- is the weak conjugate base of strong acid HCl. Therefore, In CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ Cl^- , CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ (strong acid) have more tendency to give H⁺ ion or H₃O⁺ and converted into CH₃CH₂NH₂ . Now, Species which have tendency to give one or more H⁺ ions or H₃O⁺ ions are known as acids. Hence, CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ and Cl^- together will react acidic.

For example :-

CH₃CH₂NH₃⁺ Cl^- (Acid) + H₂O (Base)--------------------> CH₃CH₂NH₂ + H₃O⁺ + Cl^-

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2. (CH₃)₄N⁺ and Cl^- together will react neutral

Ans :- In salt (CH₃)₄N⁺Cl^- :-

(CH₃)₄N⁺ does not contains H, therefore this salt does not have tendency to give H⁺ ion or to take H⁺ ion, because in (CH₃)₄N⁺ , N atom is already in its maximum covalency that is 4. Hence, (CH₃)₄N⁺ and Cl^- together will react neutral.