Ammonium sulfate is a useful chemical as it can be used as fertilizer.
- Refer to the hydrolysis of ammonium sulfate to determine whether its pH will be less than 7,
equal to 7 or greater than 7.?
To determine whether the pH of ammonium sulfate will be less than 7, equal to 7, or greater than 7, we need to consider the hydrolysis reaction of ammonium sulfate.
Ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4) dissociates into ammonium ions (NH4+) and sulfate ions (SO4^2-) in water:
(NH4)2SO4 + 2H2O ⟶ 2NH4+ + SO4^2- + 2OH-
In this hydrolysis reaction, water molecules act as bases and accept a proton from the ammonium ion, forming hydroxide ions (OH-) and leaving behind the ammonium ion:
NH4+ + H2O ⟶ NH3 + H3O+
Since NH3 (ammonia) is a weak base, it will partially ionize in water to form ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH):
NH3 + H2O ⟶ NH4+ + OH-
Therefore, the presence of ammonium hydroxide in the solution will result in an increase in hydroxide ions, which will make the solution more basic (pH greater than 7).
In conclusion, the hydrolysis of ammonium sulfate will result in a solution with a pH greater than 7.