Indicate whether an aqueous solution of the following compounds is acidic, neutral, or basic. a. NH
OAc neutral b. KNO
basic c. CsNO
basic d. CsHC
O
acidic e. Cs
C
O
acidic f. Cs
HPO
neutral g. KH
PO
basic h. Cs
PO
basic Drag and drop your selection from the following list to complete the answer: neutral acidic basic Submit Answer Try Another Version 10 item attempts remaining
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Answers:
a. NH₄OAc – Neutral
b. KNO₃ – Neutral
c. CsNO₃ – Neutral
d. CsHCO₃ – Basic
e. Cs₂CO₃ – Basic
f. Cs₂HPO₄ – Basic
g. KH₂PO₄ – Acidic
h. Cs₃PO₄ – Basic
Explanation
To determine whether a salt solution is acidic, basic, or neutral, we must analyze the acid-base nature of its constituent ions. Specifically, we consider whether each ion is the conjugate of a strong or weak acid/base.
a. NH₄OAc (Ammonium acetate)
- NH₄⁺ is the conjugate acid of weak base NH₃ → acidic
- OAc⁻ (acetate) is the conjugate base of weak acid acetic acid → basic
- Since both are weak, and their strengths roughly cancel, solution is neutral.
b. KNO₃ (Potassium nitrate)
- K⁺ and NO₃⁻ come from strong base (KOH) and strong acid (HNO₃) → neutral
c. CsNO₃ (Cesium nitrate)
- Similar to b: Cs⁺ from strong base (CsOH), NO₃⁻ from strong acid → neutral
d. CsHCO₃ (Cesium bicarbonate)
- HCO₃⁻ is the conjugate base of H₂CO₃ (a weak acid), so it can accept H⁺ → basic
e. Cs₂CO₃ (Cesium carbonate)
- CO₃²⁻ is a stronger base (conjugate base of HCO₃⁻) → basic
f. Cs₂HPO₄ (Cesium hydrogen phosphate)
- HPO₄²⁻ is amphiprotic but leans basic in water → basic
g. KH₂PO₄ (Potassium dihydrogen phosphate)
- H₂PO₄⁻ is the conjugate acid of a weak base (HPO₄²⁻) → acidic
h. Cs₃PO₄ (Cesium phosphate)
- PO₄³⁻ is the conjugate base of a weak acid (HPO₄²⁻) → basic
Summary Table:
| Compound | Classification |
|---|---|
| NH₄OAc | Neutral |
| KNO₃ | Neutral |
| CsNO₃ | Neutral |
| CsHCO₃ | Basic |
| Cs₂CO₃ | Basic |
| Cs₂HPO₄ | Basic |
| KH₂PO₄ | Acidic |
| Cs₃PO₄ | Basic |
