Question

Classify these salts as acidic, basic, or neutral.

Answer 1

Compound: KCl

It has a cation of \(\mathrm{K}^{+}\) and \(\mathrm{a}\) anion of \(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\)

The cation \(\mathrm{K}^{+}\) is from a strong base and the anion \(\mathrm{Cl}\) - is from strong acid.

So, it is neutral.

Compound : \(\mathrm{LiNO}_{3}\)

It has a cation of \(L i^{+}\) and an anion of \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\)

The cation \(L i^{+}\) is from a strong base, and the anion \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\) is from strong acid.

So, it is neutral

Compound : \(\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Br}\)

It has a cation of \(\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\) and a anion of \(\mathrm{Br}\)

The cation \(\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\) is from a weak base, and the anion \(\mathrm{Br}^{-}\) is from strong acid.

So, it is acidic

Compound : \(\mathrm{K}_{3} \mathrm{PO}_{4}\)

It has a cation of \(\mathrm{K}^{+}\) and an anion of \(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\)

The cation \(K^{+}\) is from a strong base, and the anion \(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\) is from a weak acid.

So, it is basic

Compound : \(\mathrm{NaCN}\)

It has a cation of \(\mathrm{Na}^{+}\) and a anion of \(\mathrm{CN}^{-}\)

The cation \(\mathrm{Na}^{+}\) is from a strong base and the anion \(\mathrm{CN}\) ' is from a weak acid.

So, it is basic