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Questions and Answers
What happens when a strong acid combines with a strong base?
What happens when a strong acid combines with a strong base?
Which type of acid completely dissociates in water?
Which type of acid completely dissociates in water?
What is the pH of a solution with a salt containing the conjugate base from a weak acid?
What is the pH of a solution with a salt containing the conjugate base from a weak acid?
In which scenario would a salt exhibit hydrolysis?
In which scenario would a salt exhibit hydrolysis?
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What is the behavior of a weak acid when it dissociates in water?
What is the behavior of a weak acid when it dissociates in water?
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Why does the pH of a solution with the salt calcium acetate (Ca(CH₃COO)₂) derived from acetic acid and acetate ion become basic?
Why does the pH of a solution with the salt calcium acetate (Ca(CH₃COO)₂) derived from acetic acid and acetate ion become basic?
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Study Notes
Properties of Acids and Their Derived Salts
To fully grasp the behavior of salts and their relation to acid-base characteristics, let's delve deeper into the property of acids when combined with various types of bases.
A strong acid, like hydrochloric acid (HCl), completely dissociates in water, releasing one mole of hydrogen ions (protons) per mole of the acid. Conversely, a weak acid only partially dissociates, producing fewer hydrogen ions.
When a strong acid and a strong base combine, a neutral salt forms, which has neither significant hydrolytic activity nor a tendency to ionize in water solutions. Examples of common neutral salts include sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium nitrate (KNOₓ).
However, when a strong acid combines with a weak base, or vice versa, the resultant salt often exhibits hydrolysis, leading to changes in pH. If the salt contains a conjugate base from the weak acid, the pH will be greater than 7, indicating a basic solution. Contrarily, if the salt contains a conjugate acid from the weak base, the pH will be less than 7, suggesting an acidic solution.
For instance, calcium acetate (Ca(CH₃COO)₂) derives from a strong acid (HC₂H₃O₂ = acetic acid) and a weak base (CH₃COO− = acetate ion). Since acetate is a conjugate base, the solution is basic.
Similarly, salts formed from a strong base and a weak acid exhibit hydrolysis as well. The pH of these solutions is usually higher than 7 since the dominant species is the conjugate base from the weak acid, which acts as a weak base.
Notably, salts from strong bases and strong acids—such as sodium chloride (NaCl)—do not hydrolyze, maintaining a pH close to 7.
Understanding these concepts allows us to better appreciate the complexity of acid-base properties within salt solutions and anticipate the behaviors of novel compounds according to their acid strength and base character.
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Description
Explore the behavior of salts derived from strong and weak acids, and their impact on the pH of solutions. Learn about neutral salts, hydrolysis, and how the presence of conjugate bases or acids influences whether a solution is basic or acidic.
