Is sodium hydroxide acidic basic or neutral how would you justify your answer?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Sodium hydroxide is basic.
Explanation:
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is classified as a base. This is because it dissociates in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻). When a substance releases hydroxide ions into an aqueous solution, it increases the concentration of OH⁻ ions, which is a defining characteristic of a base according to the Arrhenius definition.
The chemical reaction that occurs when sodium hydroxide dissolves in water is:
NaOH (s) → Na⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq)
The presence of these hydroxide ions causes the solution to have a pH greater than 7. The higher the concentration of OH⁻ ions, the more basic or alkaline the solution becomes. A typical solution of sodium hydroxide will have a very high pH, often near 13 or 14, indicating a strong base.
Additionally, sodium hydroxide is a strong base because it completely dissociates in water. Unlike weak bases, which only partially dissociate and produce fewer hydroxide ions, NaOH ionizes fully, making it highly effective at neutralizing acids. When sodium hydroxide reacts with an acid such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), the reaction produces water and a salt (in this case, sodium chloride). This type of reaction is called a neutralization reaction:
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H₂O (l)
This supports the classification of NaOH as a base, since it acts to neutralize acids. Its corrosive nature and ability to raise pH significantly also support this conclusion.
In summary, sodium hydroxide is basic because it releases hydroxide ions in solution, increases pH, and neutralizes acids, all of which are characteristic behaviors of a base.
