Question

Classify the following salts as neutral, acidic or basic. Also, write their names. (1) KNO3(2) ZnSO4 (3) Na2CO3​

Answer 1

Answer:

A compound can be classified as acidic if it furnishes H+ ions or protons in an aqueous solution, while it can be classified as basic if it furnishes OH- ions in solution, and if furnishes neither H+ nor OH- ions then it is neutral.

Explanation:

Thus the given compounds can be classified as acidic or basic or neutral as follows:

a) Na_3PO_4Na 3 PO 4

– Basic in nature.

b) K_2CO_3K

2

CO

3

– Basic in nature.

c) NH_4NO_3NH

4

NO

3

– Acidic in nature.

Answer 2

Answer:

1) KNO3- neutral in nature.

2)ZnSO4- Acidic in nature.

3)Na2CO3- basic in nature.

Explanation:

The rules below should be kept in mind while determining the nature of a salt-

a) salt of strong acid and strong base is neutral.

b)salt of strong acid and weak base is acidic.

c)salt of weak acid and strong base is basic.

So, in case of the given compounds we see-

1) KNO3 is neutral as it is formed by a strong acid and strong base, HNO3 and KOH respectively.

2)ZnSO4 is acidic as it is formed by a strong acid and weak base, H2SO4 and ZnOH respectively.

3)Na2CO3 is basic as it is formed by a weak acid and a strong base, H2CO3 and NaOH respectively.