Multiple Choice
Which of the following substances is generally insoluble in water?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Solubility Rules
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For which of the following salts does the solubility depend on pH?
A
NaCl
B
BaSO4
C
KNO3
D
CaCO3
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the nature of each salt and whether its solubility equilibrium involves species that can react with H+ or OH- ions, which would cause pH-dependent solubility.
NaCl and KNO3 are salts of strong acids and strong bases, so they fully dissociate and their solubility is not affected by pH changes.
BaSO4 is a salt of a strong base (Ba(OH)2) and a weak acid (H2SO4), but sulfate ion (SO4^{2-}) is a very weak base and does not significantly react with H+ or OH-, so its solubility is mostly pH-independent.
CaCO3 contains the carbonate ion (CO3^{2-}), which is a base and can react with H+ ions in solution, shifting the equilibrium and thus making its solubility dependent on pH.
Therefore, the solubility of CaCO3 depends on pH because the carbonate ion participates in acid-base equilibria, unlike the other salts listed.
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