Question

Is \[N{H_4}Cl\]a basic salt?

Answer 1

Hint : A salt is formed as a result of neutralization reaction. An acid and a base react to form a salt that contains a cation obtained from the base and an anion obtained from the acid which decides the nature of the salt being formed.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Acidic or basic substances are characterized by their pH values in aqueous solution. A pH value below seven makes the substance acidic and a pH value above seven makes the substance basic in nature. A pH value of exact seven suggests that the substance is neutral like water.
Salts obtained from the neutralization reaction between acids and bases can be acidic, basic or neutral depending upon the relative strengths of the acid and base being involved in the reaction.
A reaction between a strong acid and a weak base gives an acidic salt and a reaction between a strong base and a weak acid gives a basic salt. Two equally strong acids result in a neutral salt.
Hydrolysis of \[N{H_4}Cl\] gives \[N{H_4}OH\] and \[HCl\].
\[N{H_4}Cl(s) + {H_2}O(l) \rightleftarrows N{H_4}OH(aq) + HCl(aq)\]
This suggests that Ammonium chloride is formed from a reaction carried out between hydrochloric acid \[(HCl)\] and ammonium hydroxide \[(N{H_4}OH)\] base.
Hydrochloric is a stronger acid while ammonium hydroxide is a weaker base. Hence when ammonium ions from ammonium hydroxide combine with chloride ions from hydrochloric acid then the salt formed is acidic in nature.
Therefore No, \[N{H_4}Cl\]is not basic but acidic in nature.

Note :
The exact pH values of the acid and base being used to form the salt need not be known. A knowledge of the relative strengths of common mineral acids and bases is enough to classify the resulting salts as acidic or basic. But an acidic salt does not release hydronium ions like an acid.