Arrange the solutions in order of increasing basicity: CH3NH3Br, KOH, KBr, KCN, C5H5NHNO2.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the nature of each compound: CH3NH3Br is a salt of a weak base (CH3NH2) and a strong acid (HBr), KOH is a strong base, KBr is a neutral salt, KCN is a salt of a weak acid (HCN) and a strong base (KOH), and C5H5NHNO2 is a salt of a weak base (C5H5N) and a strong acid (HNO2).
2. Determine the basicity of each compound: CH3NH3Br will be slightly acidic due to the presence of CH3NH3+, KOH is strongly basic, KBr is neutral, KCN is basic due to the presence of CN-, and C5H5NHNO2 will be slightly acidic due to the presence of C5H5NH+.
3. Arrange the compounds based on their basicity: Start with the most acidic (least basic) and move to the most basic.
4. Consider the neutral compound (KBr) as having no basicity, placing it between acidic and basic compounds.
5. Order the compounds from least basic to most basic: CH3NH3Br, C5H5NHNO2, KBr, KCN, KOH.

Key Concepts

Basicity

Basicity refers to the ability of a substance to accept protons (H+) or donate electron pairs in a chemical reaction. In aqueous solutions, stronger bases will have a higher tendency to increase the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-), which is a key indicator of basicity. Understanding the strength of bases is essential for comparing different compounds.

Salt Hydrolysis

Salt hydrolysis occurs when a salt dissolves in water and its ions interact with water molecules, potentially affecting the pH of the solution. Some salts can produce acidic or basic solutions depending on the nature of their constituent ions. For example, salts derived from strong acids and weak bases tend to be acidic, while those from weak acids and strong bases tend to be basic.

Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

Conjugate acid-base pairs consist of an acid and its corresponding base that differ by a single proton. The strength of a base can often be inferred from the strength of its conjugate acid; a strong acid has a weak conjugate base, while a weak acid has a strong conjugate base. This concept is crucial for predicting the basicity of compounds in the given question.