Will 0.10 M aqueous solutions of the following salts be acidic , basic or neutra

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Explanation / Answer

To answer this question, ask yourself, "What acid and base would react to form this salt"? The base normally comes from the cation part and the acid comes from the anion part. (NH4)2SO3 . . .produced by reacting the weak base NH3 with the weak acid, H2SO3. Kb for NH3 = 1.8 x 10^-5 Ka for H2SO3 = 1.7 x 10^-2 Since the Ka > Kb, the salt solution is acidic. NH4C2H3O2 comes from NH3 (a weak base) and HC2H3O2 ( a weak acid) Kb NH3 = 1.8 x 10^-5 Ka HC2H3O2 = 1.8 x 10^-5 Since Ka = Kb, the salt solution is essentially neutral. NH4CHO2 comes from NH3 and HCHO2. Kb NH3 = 1.8 x 10^-5 Ka HCHO2 = 1.8 x 10^-4 Since Ka>Kb, the salt solution is acidic. Na2HPO4 comes from NaOH and H2PO4-. Since NaOH is a strong base and H2PO4- is a weak acid, the salt solution is basic. Na2C2O4 comes from NaOH and H2C2O4. Since NaOH is a strong base and H2C2O4 is a weak acid, the salt solution is basic.

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