If an unknown salt solution has pH 9, what is its most probable formation condition?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: It was formed from a weak acid and a strong base
A pH of 9 indicates that the salt solution is mildly basic. A salt made from a weak acid and a strong base, such as sodium acetate in the usual school-level example, undergoes hydrolysis: the anion reacts with water and produces OH⁻ ions. Therefore option A is the most probable condition. Strong acid–weak base salts are generally acidic, strong acid–strong base salts are approximately neutral, and acid alone does not define a salt.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
It was formed from a weak acid and a strong base
Why is this the correct answer?
A pH of 9 indicates that the salt solution is mildly basic. A salt made from a weak acid and a strong base, such as sodium acetate in the usual school-level example, undergoes hydrolysis: the anion reacts with water and produces OH⁻ ions. Therefore option A is the most probable condition. Strong acid–weak base salts are generally acidic, strong acid–strong base salts are approximately neutral, and acid alone does not define a salt.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 10 Science question. Chapter: Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour. Topic: Acids, Bases, and Salts.
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