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.

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