Arrange the solutions in order of increasing acidity. NaCl, NH₄Cl, NaHCO₃, NH₄ClO₂, NaOH

Name: Chemistry: A Molecular Approach
Author: Tro
ISBN: 9780134112831

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Identify the nature of each compound: NaCl is a neutral salt, NH4Cl is an acidic salt, NaHCO3 is a basic salt, NH4ClO2 is an acidic salt, and NaOH is a strong base.

Consider the ions produced in solution: NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl-, NH4Cl into NH4+ and Cl-, NaHCO3 into Na+ and HCO3-, NH4ClO2 into NH4+ and ClO2-, and NaOH into Na+ and OH-.

Evaluate the acidic or basic nature of the ions: NH4+ is a weak acid, Cl- is neutral, HCO3- is a weak base, ClO2- is a weak acid, and OH- is a strong base.

Rank the solutions based on the strength of their acidic or basic ions: NaOH (strong base) < NaHCO3 (weak base) < NaCl (neutral) < NH4ClO2 (weak acid) < NH4Cl (stronger acid).

Arrange the solutions in order of increasing acidity: NaOH, NaHCO3, NaCl, NH4ClO2, NH4Cl.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acidity and pH

Acidity refers to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution, which determines its pH level. A lower pH indicates a more acidic solution, while a higher pH indicates a more basic solution. Understanding the pH scale is essential for comparing the acidity of different solutions.

Salt Hydrolysis

Salt hydrolysis occurs when a salt dissolves in water and reacts with water to produce an acidic or basic solution. For example, ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) can release H+ ions, making the solution acidic, while sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) can produce OH- ions, making the solution basic. This concept is crucial for determining the acidity of the given salts.

Strong vs. Weak Acids and Bases

Strong acids and bases completely dissociate in water, while weak acids and bases only partially dissociate. For instance, NaOH is a strong base that fully dissociates, leading to a higher pH, whereas NH4Cl is derived from a weak acid (NH4+) and a strong base (Cl-), resulting in a more acidic solution. This distinction is vital for ranking the acidity of the solutions.

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