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How does salt affect pH?

1 Answer

Feb 9, 2017

Does the anion or cation undergo hydrolysis?

Explanation:

Salts of weak acids, such as fluorides will give rise to a slightly basic solution:

$N a F (a q) + H_{2} O ⇌ N a^{+} + H F (a q) + H O^{-}$ $NaF(aq) + H_2O rightleftharpoons Na^(+) + HF(aq) + HO^-$

For another example, look at the acid-base behaviour of ammonium salts:

$N H_{4}^{+} + H_{2} O (l) ⇌ N H_{3} (a q) + H_{3} O^{+}$ $NH_4^(+) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsNH_3(aq) + H_3O^+$

In each case, the equilibrium lies to the left as we face the equation, but the equilibrium still operates, and is certainly quantifiable.

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