In: Chemistry
This question is an example of salt-hydrolysis, when salt is hydrolysed with water it may produce acidic, basic or neutral solution depends on their chemical formula, it means pH of the medium.
Salts which form of strong acids and weak bases when hydrolysed produce acidic solution.
ex: Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)
Salts which form of strong acids/weakacids and strong bases/weak bases, respectively when hydrolysed produce neutral solution.
EX: NaCl, CH3COONH4
Salts which form of weak acids and strong bases when hydrolysed produce basic solution.
EX: Na2CO3, CH3COONa, (CH3COO)2Ca, NaHCO3
Na2CO3 + H2O NaOH + H2CO3
Salt water strong base weak acid (Solution will be basic)
Reactions
NH4Cl + H2O NH4OH + HCl
Salt water weak base strong acid
It produces strong acid which ionise fastly and releases H+, while ammonium hydroxide is a weaker base liberates OH- slowly therefore solution will be acidic, pH willbe below 7.
NH4NO3 + H2O NH4OH + HNO3 (nitric acid)
It produces strong acid which ionise fastly and releases H+, while ammonium hydroxide is a weaker base liberates OH- slowly therefore solution will be acidic, pH will be below 7.