Question

In general, salts

• A. are ionic compounds
• B. contain hydrogen ions
• C. contain hydroxide ion
• D. turn blue litmus red

Answer 1

The correct option is A

are ionic compounds

Explanation for the correct option:

(A) are ionic compounds

Salts are basically ionic compounds made up of positively charged ions (cations) that come from the base and negatively charged ions (anions) that come from the acid.

For example:

${\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\stackrel{}{\to }{\mathrm{NaNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

1. Here Nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$ is an acid and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a base.
2. This reaction forms a salt Sodium Nitrate $\left({\mathrm{NaNO}}_3\right)$ which is an ionic compound.

Explanation for the incorrect option(s):

(B) contain hydrogen ions

Acids contain hydrogen ions.

(C) contain hydroxide ion

Bases contain hydroxide ion

(D) turn blue litmus red

Acids turn blue litmus red

Therefore, in general, salts are ionic compounds.

Hence option (A) is correct.