Achieve Question 7

[Angela_Li_1J]

How can you determine whether a salt is acidic or basic?

[Henry_2A]

Hi
You have to look at the cation and anion of the salt. Each ion has a different relative acidity and basicity.

[Clayton Dinh 3C]

You would split the molecule up into bases and acids by diffusing it with water. If there is a strong base and a strong acid, the salt would be neutral. If there is a strong base and weak acid, the salt would be basic. If there is a strong acid and weak base, the salt would be acidic.

[Rachel Bartley 2B]

It first helps to look at the full neutralization equation for the salt, where the salt and water are the products. Then you can find the acid and base that would be the reactants for the neutralization. A strong base and acid suggest a neutral salt because the conjugate of each acid and base would be weak. A strong acid and weak base would make the salt acidic because the conjugate of the acid would be a weak base, while the conjugate of the base would be strong. And a weak acid and strong base, would be basic because the conjugate of the acid is a strong base, and the conjugate of the base is a weak acid.

[005493723]

You would look up the acid and bases that make up the salt, if one of them is stronger then that is what the overall salt will be (ex: if it is made up of a strong base and weak acid then the salt itself would be basic). If both the acid and base are strong then it is neutral.