Question

Classify these salts as acidic, basic, or neutral. Acidic Basic Neutral NH4ClO4 K2CO3 KCl LiNO3 NaF

Answer 1

General guidance

Concepts and reason

The concept used to solve the given problem is the knowledge of the acidic, basic and neutral salt.

Fundamentals

Salt is the product of reaction between acid and base or simply the product of neutralization. As acid and bases can either be strong or weak and react together to form mainly three types of salt.

When acid and base both are strong then the salt which is formed are known as SASB salt.

When acid is strong while base is weak then the salt which is formed are known as SAWB salt.

When acid is weak while base is strong then the salt which is formed are known as WASB salt.

The acidity or basicity of salt depend upon the salt hydrolysis and strong part of the conjugate will decide the nature of salt.

Step-by-step

Step 1 of 6

(1)

The ionic form or the conjugate base and conjugate acid of the salt upon hydrolysis are as follows:

${\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{Cl}}{{\\rm{O}}_4} \\to {\\rm{NH}}_4^ + + {\\rm{ClO}}_4^ -$

Explanation | Common mistakes | Hint for next step

The salt upon hydrolysis converts into conjugate acid and base which shows from which acids on neutralization the salt is formed.

Step 2 of 6

(1)

The conjugate of ${\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{Cl}}$are formed by the combination strong acid and weak base. Weak base reacts as follows:

${\\rm{NH}}_4^ + + {\\rm{O}}{{\\rm{H}}^ - } \\to {\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{OH}}$

And, strong acid reacts as follows:

${{\\rm{H}}^ + } + {\\rm{ClO}}_4^ - \\to {\\rm{HCl}}{{\\rm{O}}_4}$

Part 1

The salt ${\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{Cl}}{{\\rm{O}}_4}$is an acidic salt.

Upon hydrolysis of salt the conjugate which is formed by the strong part will decide the nature of salt. If the components of salt are SASB then the salt will be neutral. If the components of salt are SAWB then the salt will be acidic salt. If the components of the salt are WASB then the salt will be basic salt. And if the components of the salt are WAWB then the nature of the salt cannot be predicted.

Step 3 of 6

(2)

The ionic form or the conjugate base and conjugate acid of the salt upon hydrolysis are as follows:

${\\rm{NaF}} + {{\\rm{H}}_2}{\\rm{O}} \\to {\\rm{NaOH}} + {\\rm{HF}}$

Part 2

The salt ${\\rm{NaF}}$is a basic salt.

Upon hydrolysis of salt the conjugate which is formed by the strong part will decide the nature of salt. If the components of salt are SASB then the salt will be neutral. If the components of the salt are WASB then the salt will be basic salt. The salt ${\\rm{NaF}}$ gets dissociated into weak acid and strong base.

Step 4 of 6

(3)

The ionic form or the conjugate base and conjugate acid of the salt upon hydrolysis are as follows:

${{\\rm{K}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}} + {{\\rm{H}}_2}{\\rm{O}} \\to {\\rm{KOH}} + {{\\rm{H}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$

Part 3

The salt ${{\\rm{K}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is a basic salt.

Upon hydrolysis of salt the conjugate which is formed by the strong part will decide the nature of salt. If the components of salt are SASB then the salt will be neutral. If the components of the salt are WASB then the salt will be basic salt. The salt ${{\\rm{K}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$ gets dissociated into weak acid and strong base.

Step 5 of 6

(4)

The ionic form or the conjugate base and conjugate acid of the salt upon hydrolysis are as follows:

${\\rm{LiN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}} + {{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{2}}}{\\rm{O}} \\to {\\rm{LiOH}} + {\\rm{HN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$

This is a neutral salt.

Part 4

The salt ${\\rm{LiN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is neutral salt.

Upon hydrolysis of salt the conjugate which is formed by the strong part will decide the nature of salt. If the components of the salt are WAWB then the nature of the salt cannot be predicted. The ${\\rm{LiN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$ dissociates into strong acid and strong base. In the presence of strong acid and strong base, the effect of base and acid is masked.

Step 6 of 6

(5)

The ionic form or the conjugate base and conjugate acid of the salt upon hydrolysis are as follows:

${\\rm{KCl}} + {{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{2}}}{\\rm{O}} \\to {\\rm{KOH}} + {\\rm{HCl}}$

This is a neutral salt.

Part 5

The salt ${\\rm{KCl}}$is neutral salt.

Explanation

Upon hydrolysis of salt the conjugate which is formed by the strong part will decide the nature of salt. If the components of the salt are WAWB then the nature of the salt cannot be predicted. The ${\\rm{KCl}}$ dissociates into strong acid and strong base. In the presence of strong acid and strong base, the effect of base and acid is masked.

Answer

Part 1

The salt ${\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{Cl}}{{\\rm{O}}_4}$is an acidic salt.

Part 2

The salt ${\\rm{NaF}}$is a basic salt.

Part 3

The salt ${{\\rm{K}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is a basic salt.

Part 4

The salt ${\\rm{LiN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is neutral salt.

Part 5

The salt ${\\rm{KCl}}$is neutral salt.

Answer only

Part 1

The salt ${\\rm{N}}{{\\rm{H}}_{\\rm{4}}}{\\rm{Cl}}{{\\rm{O}}_4}$is an acidic salt.

Part 2

The salt ${\\rm{NaF}}$is a basic salt.

Part 3

The salt ${{\\rm{K}}_2}{\\rm{C}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is a basic salt.

Part 4

The salt ${\\rm{LiN}}{{\\rm{O}}_{\\rm{3}}}$is neutral salt.

Part 5

The salt ${\\rm{KCl}}$is neutral salt.