What kind of salt (acidic or basic) is Zn(CH_3COO)_2Zn(CH3COO)2 solution?

1 Answer
Apr 23, 2016

Basic

Explanation:

This solution, when in water will have the following equilibrium:

Zn(CH_3COO)_2 + 6H_2O rarr Zn(H_2O)_6^(+2) + 2CH_3COO^(-)Zn(CH3COO)2+6H2OZn(H2O)+26+2CH3COO

While that aqua-ion (the complex of the metallic ion with the water) can cause a mild hydrolysis liberating protons, the main acid-base equilibrium here is the one that acetate CH_3COO^(-)CH3COO does, you see, it's a base, which means that in aqueous solution it undergoes this equilibrium:

CH_3COO^(-) + H_2O harr CH_3COOH + OH^(-)CH3COO+H2OCH3COOH+OH