Question

: Which of the following salts with a concentration of $$0.1\text{ M}$$ will give a basic solution?
A.Ammonium acetate
B.Ammonium chloride
C.Ammonium sulphate
D.Sodium acetate

Answer 1

Hint: A salt made up of weak acid and strong base have basic pH of solution of salt. Strong acid weak base type of salt has acidic pH. Ammonia is a weak base.

Complete step by step answer:
Salts are formed by the reaction between acid and base. The acid forms the anionic part of the salt and base forms the cationic part of the salt. For example sodium chloride is the salt formed by the reaction between $$\text{HCl and NaOH}$$, Chloride ion from hydrochloric acid and sodium ion from sodium hydroxide (cationic) form the salt $$\text{NaCl}$$ with release of water molecule.
Based on the types of acid and bases that reacts to form salt, salt can be classified as: Weak acid weak base salt, strong acid weak base salt (SAWB), weak acid strong base (WASB) salt and strong acid strong base (SASB) salt. The SASB and WAWB types of salts have neutral pH because the acid and base almost completely neutralise each other, WASB types of salt have basic solutions and SWAB types of salt have acidic solutions. So the cationic (basic) and anionic (acidic) part of salt greatly defines the nature of solution of salt.
Ammonium acetate is a WAWB type of salt. As it has ammonium ion from ammonium hydroxide (weak base) and acetate ion from acetic acid (weak acid). This will have neutral pH.
Now ammonium chloride is a SWAB type of salt. As it has ammonium ion from ammonium hydroxide (weak base) and chloride ion from $$\text{HCl}$$ (strong acid). This will make an acidic solution.
Now ammonium sulphate is a SWAB type of salt. As it has ammonium ion from ammonium hydroxide (weak base) and sulphate ion from sulphuric acid (strong acid). This will have acidic pH.
Now sodium acetate salt is a WASB type of salt. As it is having sodium ion from sodium hydroxide (strong base) and acetate ion from acetic acid (weak acid). This will have basic pH.

Thus, the correct option is D.

Note:
Acids like acetic acid, formic acid, hydrocyanic acid etc are weak acid and acids like sulphuric acid, nitric acid, $$\text{HCl}$$ are strong acids. Bases like ammonium hydroxide are weak and bases like sodium hydroxide are strong bases. A strong acid or base is completely ionized and whereas a weak acid or base is partially ionized.