Question

What is hydrolysis definition?

Answer 1

1. The cations/ anions formed on ionisation of salts either exist as hydrated ions in aqueous solutions or interact with water to form corresponding acids/bases depending upon the nature of salts.
2. This process of interaction between water and cations/anions or both salts is called hydrolysis.
3. The salts of weak acids and strong bases can undergo hydrolysis. Example: Sodium acetate(${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}$)
4. $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COO}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \\ \mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{acetate}\mathrm{Acetate}\mathrm{ion}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{ion} \end{gathered}$$
5. Another type of hydrolysis reaction can take place between salts of strong acid and weak base. Example: ${\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}$
6. $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {{\mathrm{NH}}_4}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \\ \mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{Chloride} \\ \mathrm{chloride}\mathrm{ions}\mathrm{ions} \end{gathered}$$
7. Hydrolysis reaction can also take place between salts of a weak acid and a weak base. Example: ${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COONH}}_4$.
8. $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COO}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{{\mathrm{NH}}_4}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \\ \mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{acetate}\mathrm{Acetic}\mathrm{acid}\mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{hydroxide} \end{gathered}$$