Question

Classify the following salts into acidic, basic and neutral: Potassium sulphate, Ammonium chloride, Sodium carbonate, Sodium chloride?

Answer 1

Types of salts:

• Salts can be generally classified as : acidic, basic, and neutral salts.
• An acid is mostly defined as a substance in which its aqueous solution tastes sour, turns blue litmus red and neutralizes bases.
• A substance is known as a basic if its aqueous solution tastes bitter, turns red litmus blue or neutralizes acids.
• Whereas salt is called as a neutral substance when its aqueous solution does not affect litmus.

Classification of the given salts into acidic, basic and neutral:

Ammonium chloride:

• Ammonium chloride is known as a salt made up of the combination of Ammonium hydroxide And Hydrochloric acid, which can be given as:

$\underset{(\mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{hydroxide})}{{\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{chloride}\right)}{{\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{water}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$

• Here the given Ammonium hydroxide is a weak base whereas Hydrochloric acid is known to be a strong acid, and the combination of which produces an acidic salt.
• Hence, Ammonium chloride can be classified as an acidic salt.

Sodium carbonate:

• Sodium carbonate is known as a salt made up of the combination of Sodium hydroxide and Carbonic acid, which can be given as:
• $\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide}\right)}{\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Carbonic}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{carbonate}\right)}{{\mathrm{NaCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{water}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$
• Here the given Sodium hydroxide is a strong base whereas Carbonic acid is known to be a weak acid, and the combination of which produces a basic salt.
• Hence, Sodium carbonate can be classified as a basic salt.

Potassium sulfate:

• Potassium sulfate is known as a salt made up of the combination of Potassium hydroxide and Sulfuric acid, which can be given as:
• $\underset{\left(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{hydroxide}\right)}{\mathrm{KOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulfuric}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{sulfate}\right)}{{\mathrm{KSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{water}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$
• Here the given Potassium hydroxide is a strong base and Sulfuric acid is known to be a strong acid, and the combination of which produces a neutral salt.
• Hence, Potassium sulfate can be classified as a neutral salt.

Sodium chloride:

• Sodium chloride is known as a salt made up of the combination of Sodium hydroxide and Hydrochloric acid, which can be given as:
• $\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide})}{\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride}\right)}{\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{water}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$
• Here the given Sodium hydroxide is a strong base and Hydrochloric acid is known to be a strong acid, and the combination of which produces a neutral salt.
• Hence, Sodium chloride can be classified as a neutral salt.