Question

Identify the substance whose $0.1\, M$ solution is basic?

• A. Ammonium chloride
• B. Ammonium acetate
• C. Ammonium sulphate
• D. Sodium acetate

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Sodium acetate

Answer 2

Sodium acetate is a salt of strong base
$( NaOH )$ and weak acid $\left( CH _{3} COOH \right)$.
In aqueous solution it gets hydrolysed as
$CH _{3} COONa + H _{2} O \rightarrow CH _{3} COOH + NaOH$
or $CH _{3} COO ^{-}+ Na ^{+}+ H _{2} O \rightarrow CH _{3} COOH$
$+ Na ^{+}+ OH ^{-}$or $CH _{3} COO ^{-}+ H _{2} O \rightarrow CH _{3} COOH + OH ^{-}$
Because of the excess of $\left[ OH ^{-}\right]$in aqueous solution, its solution is basic in nature.
Aqueous solution of salt of strong acid and weak base is acidic and that of strong
acid and strong base is neutral.