Which Salts Form Basic Solutions in Water?

[wonka08]

Homework Statement

OK so this is my first time actually posting but I have lurked around. I need help with two of my chemistry problems.

Problem 1

Decide which one(s) of these answer choices are correct.
A buffered solution is one which can be desribed by which of the following:

I. a solution which resists pH
II. may contain a weak acid and its salt
III. contains species which can react with both H+ and OH-

Problem 2

Which of the following salts will form a basic solution in water?
a. KCl
b. Na2SO4
c. CuCl2
d. Na2CO3
e. NH4NO3

Homework Equations

No equations for question 1.

Question 2 wouldn't the products have to have the OH ion or will water autoionize?

The Attempt at a Solution

For problem 1 I already know that answer choices "I and II" are correct. My question is about the third. I don't understand what the statement is saying and whether it is true or not.


For question 2 I thought that what reacts with water will have to have an OH^- to become a basic salt.

Thanks to those who can help

 

[dacruick]

a buffered solution is a solutions which resists change in pH. So what you have initially say is a weak acid and a weak base. Let's say you add a strong acid like HCl, which has a low pH, and will generally make your solution more acidic. Once you do this, your weak base will react with the strong acid, creating a weak acid and possibly water. So now that strong acid will in a way be converted to a weak acid, only slightly decreasing the pH. For the second one, you basically want to split up the two components of each molecule. It seems that a bunch of them have strong acid components, and a bunch of them have strong base components. You might have to do some log[OH] and log[H] calculuations. So basicaly we know NaOH is a strong base, so chances are that one will create a strong base. we Know HNO3 is a strong acid, so that one will not be basic. and so on.

 

[Borek]

Imagine solution of acetic buffer. It contains both CH₃COO^- and CH₃COOH. What happens when you add base? What happens when you add acid?

Do you know what is Broensted definition of a base? Do you know how ammonia reacts with water and why its solutions are basic? Can you write reaction equation? Or perhaps you have neard about hydrolysis?

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