Question

The aqueous solution of aluminium chloride is acidic due to:

• A. cation hydrolysis
• B. anion hydrolysis
• C. hydrolysis of both anion and cation
• D. dissociation

Answer 1

The correct option is A cation hydrolysis

The aqueous solution of aluminium chloride is acidic due to cation hydrolysis.
$AlC{l}_3+H_{2}O\to Al(OH{)}_3+HCl$.
$HCl$ is a strong acid than weak $Al(OH{)}_3$.
$A{l}^{3+}$, having a high charge/surface area ratio charge density, polarizes the water ligands and ejects out $H^{+}$ ions.
As a result of polarization by $A{l}^{3+}$, there is a drift of electron density towards $A{l}^{3+}$ and this weakens the OH bonds