In: Chemistry
(a) What is "zeolite"? and what is the nature of its
acidity?
(b) By what kind of experiments can one determine the zeolite has
Brönsted or Lewis acidic sites?
a) Zeolite are hydrated metal alumino silicates. It formula is (M^n)(x/n) Si(1-x)AlxO2 • yH2O
Where M = Na, K
It is used as adsorbent and catalyst. Nature of Zeolite acid or basic in nature but mostly Zeolite are acid used in chemicsl industries and many chemical reaction.
b) by ion-exchange methods because if in zeolite donate proton (H+) from active side they exachange by Na+ ion ( like added NaCl) added give HCl ( because H+ ion exchange by sodium ion and free Cl- ion combine with this releasing H+ ion) hence active side in zeolite have bronsted acid site and if any Lewis base donate the electron to Silicon or Aluminum empty d-orbital hence there active side in Zeolite Lewis acid site.
Note : bronsted acid released H+ ion and lewiL acid accept electron from Lewis base.