Which of the following salts is most likely to form an aqueous solution having the pH shown in the figure below? A)KCl B)Zn(NO₃)₂ C)NaCN D)NH₄Cl E)LiBr

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

From the pH scale in the figure, we see the pH is around 9.5. This means the solution is slightly basic. The only salt that can produce a basic solution is one containing a basic anion. NaCN contains the CN- anion, which is the conjugate base of the weak acid HCN. This means that when NaCN dissolves in water, the CN- ion will react with water to form OH- ions, making the solution basic. The other salts either produce neutral or acidic solutions when dissolved in water.

Which of the Following Salts Is Most Likely to Form