SAMPLE PROBLEM 18.11
Predicting the relative acidity of salt solutions
(a) potassium perchlorate, KClO4
(b) sodium benzoate, C6H5COONa
(c) chromium trichloride, CrCl3
(d) sodium hydrogen sulfate, NaHSO4
SOLUTION:
(a) The ions are K+ and ClO4-, which come from a strong base (KOH) and a strong acid (HClO4). The salt solution will be neutral.
(b) Na+ comes from the strong base NaOH while C6H5COO- is the anion of a weak organic acid. The salt solution will be basic.
(c) Cr3+ is a small cation with a large + charge, so its hydrated form will react with water to produce H3O+. Cl- comes from the strong acid HCl. The salt solution will be acidic.
(d) Na+ comes from a strong base. HSO4- can react with water to form H3O+. The salt solution will be acidic.
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