Is #NH_4ClO_4# acidic?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 17, 2016

A solution of #"ammonium perchlorate"# would be slightly acidic in water.

Explanation:

#"Ammonium ion"# is the conjugate acid of a weak base, #"ammonia"#; #"perchlorate anion"# is the conjugate base of a strong acid, #HClO_4#. And thus the acid base behaviour of the salt depends on the ammonium ion. Solution of ammonium perchlorate would be slightly acidic, and its #pH# governed by the equilibrium:

#NH_4^+ +H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons NH_3(aq) + H_3O^+#

The equilibrium would lie strongly to the left.

Related questions
See all questions in Acids and Bases
Impact of this question
19965 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License