iii. What is meant by hydrolysis ? A solution of CH3COONH4 is neutral. why ?
4. Answer the following :
iii. What is meant by hydrolysis ? A solution of CH3COONH4 is neutral. why ?
i. CH3COONH4 is a salt of a weak acid, CH3COOH (\(K_a = 1.8 \times 10^{-5}\)), and a weak base, NH4OH (\(K_b = 1.8 \times 10^{-5}\)). When the salt CH3COONH4 is dissolved in water, it undergoes hydrolysis:
\[\ce{CH3COO^-_{(aq)} + NH4^+_{(aq)} + H2O_{(l)} \rightleftharpoons CH3COOH_{(aq)} + NH4OH_{(aq)}}\]
ii. The ions of the salt react with water as
\[\ce{CH3COO^-_{(aq)} + H2O_{(l)} \rightleftharpoons CH3COOH_{(aq)} + OH^-_{(aq)}}\] …(1)
\[\ce{NH4^+_{(aq)} + 2H2O_{(l)} \rightleftharpoons NH4OH_{(aq)} + H3O^+_{(aq)}}\] …(2)
iii. As \(K_a = K_b\), the relative strength of acid and base produced in hydrolysis is the same.
iv. Therefore, the solution is neutral. Hydrolysis of NH4+ produces as many H3O+ ions as that of CH3COO– produces OH– ions.