Question

Tell whether a 0.20M solution of the following salts will be acidic, basic, or neutral.

Rb₂SO₃

NH₄ClO₄

KNO₃

_{Please provide a thorough explanation, I missed this lecture and would like to learn the material intuitively. Thank you!}

Answer 1

The general rule for the nature of salt is following:

Strong acid + strong base = neutral salt
Strong acid + weak base = acid salt
Weak acid + strong base = basic salt
Weak acid + weak base = neutral salt

Rb₂SO₃ is a Basic salt

SO3^2- will abstract proton and forms OH- . it is an example of Weak acid + strong base /

NH₄ClO₄ is an example of strong acid and weak base means it is an acidic salt, because it gives more nuber of H+ than OH- in the solution.

NH4ClO4 = NH4+ and ClO4-

NH4+) + (H2O) <--> (NH3) + (H3O+)

KNO3 salt is an example of strong acid and strong base means it is a neutral, because it gives same number of H+ and OH- ions in solution.

KOH + HNO3 ---> KNO3 + H2O