Question

What do you understand by hydrolysis? Explain giving examples.

Answer 1

Hydrolysis is the process in which a salt and water react to form an acidic or basic solution.
In the process of hydrolysis, only those salts hydrolyse which are formed by the reaction of

• strong base and weak acid
• strong acid and weak base

This happens because a salt formed due to a strong base and a weak acid on dissolving in water will form a basic solution.
A basic solution turns red litmus blue.
$N{a}_{2}C{O}_3$+ $2H_{2}O$ $\to$ $2NaOH$ + $H_{2}C{O}_3$

However, the salt formed due to a strong acid and a weak base on dissolving in water will make an acidic solution. Acidic solutions turn blue litmus red.
$FeC{l}_3$+ $3H_{2}O$ $\to$ $Fe(OH{)}_3$+ $3HCl$