Question

Question #11dcb

Answer 1

A solution made by dissolving pure table salt in water will be neutral, which implies a pH equal to 7.

Table salt is the common name of sodium chloride, or `NaCl`, which is an ionic compound formed by sodium cations, `Na^(+)`, and chloride anions, `Cl^(-)`.

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When it dissolves in water, the ions it forms do not affect the concentration of hydronium ions, which is what dictates a solution's pH.

The concentrations of `H^(+)` or `OH^(-)` are not changed by the ions that make up table salt.

The ions interact with the water molecules by way of electrostatic attraction

![http://www.chemistryland.com/CHM107/Water/WaterTutorial.htm]()

So, if you add pure table salt to water, the pH of the resulting solution will not be different from that of water, i.e. it will remain neutral

`pH_("table salt solution") = 7`