Which is a salt of an oxy acid?
A. sodium sulfate
B. magnesium chloride
C. boron nitride
D. carbon dioxide
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is A. sodium sulfate.
Explanation:
To understand why sodium sulfate is the salt of an oxyacid, we need to break down the concepts involved.
- Oxyacids: These are acids that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and another element (usually a non-metal). The general formula for oxyacids is $\text{H}_x\text{EO}_y$, where $E$ is a non-metal and $O$ is oxygen. Examples include sulfuric acid ($\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$), nitric acid ($\text{HNO}_3$), and phosphoric acid ($\text{H}_3\text{PO}_4$).
- Salts: A salt is a compound that results from the neutralization reaction between an acid and a base. When an acid reacts with a base, the hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the acid are replaced by metal cations (positive ions) or ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) from the base, forming a salt.
Now let’s look at the options:
- A. Sodium sulfate: Sodium sulfate ($\text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4$) is the salt formed from sulfuric acid ($\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$), which is an oxyacid. When sulfuric acid reacts with a base (like sodium hydroxide), the hydrogen ions are replaced by sodium ions (Na⁺), resulting in the formation of sodium sulfate. Therefore, sodium sulfate is indeed a salt of an oxyacid.
- B. Magnesium chloride: Magnesium chloride ($\text{MgCl}_2$) is a salt, but it is formed from the reaction of magnesium (a metal) with hydrochloric acid ($\text{HCl}$), which is a binary acid (not an oxyacid). Therefore, magnesium chloride is not a salt of an oxyacid.
- C. Boron nitride: Boron nitride ($\text{BN}$) is a compound made of boron and nitrogen, and it is not a salt. It does not result from an acid-base neutralization reaction, nor is it derived from an oxyacid.
- D. Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) is a gas and not a salt. It is a product of combustion or respiration and does not involve a salt formation process from an oxyacid.
In conclusion, sodium sulfate (A) is the only correct answer as it is a salt formed from an oxyacid (sulfuric acid).