When dissolved in an aqueous solution, which of the following salts will yield a neutral solution?
Choose one answer.
a. KCN
b. NaHSO4
c. Na3PO4
d. AlBr3
e. MgBr2
I don't think any of them will be neutral. Other tutors may disagree.
To determine which of the given salts will yield a neutral solution when dissolved in an aqueous solution, you need to understand the concept of acids, bases, and pH.
In an aqueous solution, salts can produce either acidic, basic, or neutral solutions depending on the nature of their cations and anions. If the cation is an acidic substance or the anion is a basic substance, the salt will yield an acidic or basic solution, respectively. On the other hand, if both the cation and anion are neutral, the salt will yield a neutral solution.
To identify whether a cation or anion is acidic, basic, or neutral, you can refer to their corresponding compounds or ions. Acidic substances are those that can release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, while basic substances are those that can release hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water.
Now, let's analyze each of the given salts:
a. KCN: Potassium cyanide consists of a neutral cation (K+) and a basic anion (CN-). Since the anion is basic, the salt will produce a basic solution.
b. NaHSO4: Sodium hydrogen sulfate consists of a neutral cation (Na+) and an acidic anion (HSO4-). Since the anion is acidic, the salt will produce an acidic solution.
c. Na3PO4: Sodium phosphate consists of a neutral cation (Na+) and a neutral anion (PO4^3-). As both the cation and anion are neutral, the salt will produce a neutral solution.
d. AlBr3: Aluminum bromide consists of an acidic cation (Al^3+) and a basic anion (Br-). Since the cation is acidic, the salt will produce an acidic solution.
e. MgBr2: Magnesium bromide consists of an alkaline earth metal cation (Mg^2+) and a basic anion (Br-). Since the cation is basic, the salt will produce a basic solution.
Therefore, the salt that will yield a neutral solution when dissolved in an aqueous solution is Na3PO4 (Option c).