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Question

Write the chemical formula of ammonium chloride. Explain why an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride is acidic in nature? Illustrate your answer with the help of a chemical equation.

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Solution

The chemical formula of ammonium chloride is NH4Cl. Since, ammonium chloride is the salt of a strong acid HCl and a weak base NH4OH, so an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride is acidic in nature.

When dissolved in water, it gets hydrolysed to some extent to form HCl and NH4OH. HCl being a strong acid is fully ionised and gives a large amount of hydrogen ions whereas NH4OH is only slightly ionised.

So, NH4Cl contains more of hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions and is hence acidic in nature.

NH4Cl(s)+H2O(l)Hydrolysis−−−−−NH4OH(aq)+HCl(aq)

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