In: Chemistry
Consider the three tubes below. Each contains a few drops of the color indicator bromothymol blue, which is yellow in acidic solutions and blue in basic solutions. One tube contains a solution of ammonium chloride, one contains ammonium acetate, and the third contains sodium acetate. Which beaker contains which salt? Explain your reasoning.
1st tube = yellow
2nd tube = green
3rd tube = blue
first consider NH4Cl
we know that
NH4Cl is obtained by the reaction
HCl + NH3 ---> NH4Cl
it is a salt of strong acid HCl and weak base NH3
since
NH3 is a weak base , its conjugate NH4+ will be a strong acid
it undergoes hydrolysis in the solution
NH4+ + H20 ---> H30+ + NH3
since it produces H30+
the solution is acidic
so
the color will be yellow
So
1st tube ---> ammonium chloride
now
consider CH3COONa
we know that
it is a salt of weak acid CH3OOH and strong base NaOH
since
CH3COOH is a weak acid , its conjugate CH3C00- will be a strong base
it undergoes hydrolysis in the solution
CH3COO- + H20 ---> CH3COOH + OH-
since it produces OH-
the solution is basic
so
the color will be blue
So
3rd tube ---> sodium acetate
finally
ammonium acetate
it is a salt of weak acid CHCOOH and weak base NH3
the pH of the solution depends on the Ka values and the temperature
so
it should be in 2nd tube
so
1st tube ---> ammonium chloride
2nd tube ---> ammonium acetate
3rd tube ----> sodium acetate