How do we decide whether salts are weak acids or weak bases?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 8, 2017

By the #pH# of the aqueous solution prepared from the salt..........

Explanation:

Weak acids typically give salts that give slightly alkaline solutions.

And weak bases, give salts that give slightly acidic solutions.

#"Sodium carbonate"# is derived from carbonic acid, a WEAK acid, and in solution, this would give a basic solution due to the following equilbrium:

#Na_2CO_3(s) + H_2O rightleftharpoons Na^(+)""^(-)HCO_3 + ""^(-)OH#

And this would give rise to a solution whose #pH>7#. How much more I don't know without quoting details.

Other salts of weak acids include #"Na"_2"HPO"_4#, #"NaF"#, and #"NaO"_2"CCH"_3#: all of these salts would give solutions that were alkaline..........

Related questions
See all questions in Acids and Bases
Impact of this question
1481 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License