Question

State if each of the following salts is acidic, basic, or neutral. Briefly, give your reason for each choice.

BaI₂, LiBr, NH₄Br, CH₃NH₃CN, and Ca₃(PO₄)₂

Is there some kind of trick or way to find the answer?

Answer 1

to determine the salt whether it is acidic, basic or neutral we have to look at the acid and base that form the salt

suppose if the If the salt is formed from a weak acid and a strong base, the salt will be basic.

If it is from a strong acid and weak base, the salt will form an acidic solution in water.

If the salt is formed from a strong acid and a strong base, the salt is neutral.

lets take the first one

BaI2-----> Ba⁺² + 2I^-

Simply take the Cation and put an OH- on the end of it and the Anion and put a H+ on it. so we will get

Ba(OH)2, its a strong base

2HI its strong acid

so this salt is nuetrol.

secon one

LiBr-----> Li+ + Br-

so its a combination of stron base LiOH, strong acid HBr combination

so this is also nuetral

NH₄Br ----->   NH₄⁺ + Br^-

NH₄⁺ ---->   NH₃ + H⁺

so its a combination of ammonia and HBr means week base strong acid combination

so acidic in nature

CH₃NH₃CN ------> CH₃NH₃⁺ + CN^-

so its basic because methyl amine is more basic than HCN

Ca₃(PO₄)₂ ------>   2H3PO4 + 3Ca(OH)2

its combination of beek base and strong acid combination

so its acidic in nature.