Question

What salt would form when each of the following strong acid/strong base reactions takes place? a. \(\mathrm{HCl}(a q)+\mathrm{KOH}(a q) \rightarrow\) b. \(\mathrm{RbOH}(a q)+\mathrm{HNO}_{3}(a q) \rightarrow\) c. \(\mathrm{HClO}_{4}(a q)+\mathrm{NaOH}(a q) \rightarrow\) d. \(\operatorname{HBr}(a q)+\operatorname{CsOH}(a q) \rightarrow\)

Short answer

The salts formed in the given reactions are as follows: a. KCl b. RbNO3 c. NaClO4 d. CsBr

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Cation and Anion of Reactants#a

For each given reactant, we need to identify the constituent cation and anion. This will help us determine the salt formed when these ions react with each other. a. In HCl, the cation is H+ and the anion is Cl-. In KOH, the cation is K+ and the anion is OH-. b. In RbOH, the cation is Rb+ and the anion is OH-. In HNO3, the cation is H+ and the anion is NO3-. c. In HClO4, the cation is H+ and the anion is ClO4-. In NaOH, the cation is Na+ and the anion is OH-. d. In HBr, the cation is H+ and the anion is Br-. In CsOH, the cation is Cs+ and the anion is OH-.

Determine the Salt Formed in Each Reaction

a. The cation from the acid (H+) reacts with the anion from the base (OH-) to form water. The remaining ions, K+ and Cl-, combine to form the salt KCl: \[ \mathrm{HCl}(a q)+\mathrm{KOH}(a q) \rightarrow \mathrm{KCl}(a q) + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}(l) \] b. The cation from the acid (H+) reacts with the anion from the base (OH-) to form water. The remaining ions, Rb+ and NO3-, combine to form the salt RbNO3: \[ \mathrm{RbOH}(a q)+\mathrm{HNO}_{3}(a q) \rightarrow \mathrm{RbNO}_3(a q) + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}(l) \] c. The cation from the acid (H+) reacts with the anion from the base (OH-) to form water. The remaining ions, Na+ and ClO4-, combine to form the salt NaClO4: \[ \mathrm{HClO}_{4}(a q)+\mathrm{NaOH}(a q) \rightarrow \mathrm{NaClO}_4(a q) + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}(l) \] d. The cation from the acid (H+) reacts with the anion from the base (OH-) to form water. The remaining ions, Cs+ and Br-, combine to form the salt CsBr: \[ \mathrm{HBr}(a q)+\mathrm{CsOH}(a q) \rightarrow \mathrm{CsBr}(a q) + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}(l) \]

Key concepts

Neutralization Reactions

Neutralization reactions are fundamental chemical processes where an acid and a base react to form water and a salt. Imagine them as a dance between protons and hydroxide ions, where they pair up to create neutral H₂O. A classic example involves hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH). When these two reactants meet, the H⁺ cation from HCl couples with the OH^- anion from KOH, and water emerges. What's left—the K⁺ from KOH and the Cl^- from HCl—join to form potassium chloride (KCl), a salt. This kind of reaction occurs when the reactants are in an aqueous (aq) solution, facilitating the ions to move freely and find their dance partners.

For learners, it's crucial to balance the equation in terms of both mass and charge to ensure the reaction is accurate. This teaches the principle of conservation and helps in predicting the outcome of chemical reactions. Chemistry is a meticulous art, and each atom and charge plays a role in crafting the final product.

Strong Acids and Bases

Substances classified as strong acids or strong bases fully dissociate in water, releasing all their protons or hydroxide ions, respectively. They are the titans of the acid-base world, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to react. Strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO₃), and perchloric acid (HClO₄), unleash protons (H⁺) that eagerly seek to bind with hydroxide ions (OH^-). Strong bases, including potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and cesium hydroxide (CsOH), provide an abundance of hydroxide ions.

These two types of chemical behemoths come together in a neutralization reaction to form water and a salt, such as when HClO₄ and NaOH form sodium perchlorate (NaClO₄). Students should bear in mind that strong acids and strong bases greatly affect the pH of a solution and should be handled with care, respecting their might in the chemical realm.

Salt Formation

In the context of chemistry, salt formation is the result of the romantic tango between an acid and a base. Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions). During neutralization reactions, after the acid and base produce water, the leftover ions don't just stand around; they bond to form a salt. For instance, when cesium hydroxide (CsOH) encounters hydrobromic acid (HBr), they form cesium bromide (CsBr) along with water.

The resulting salt, like any product of a well-balanced equation, has its own distinct properties, separate from its progenitors. Salts can influence various characteristics of a solution, such as electrical conductivity, reactivity, and even taste! The process of understanding salt formation isn't just about mixing compounds; it's about deciphering the properties of the resulting substance, which can range from benign household table salt to compounds used in complex industrial processes.