Skip to main content
Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria
Chapter 16, Problem 84c

Predict whether aqueous solutions of the following substances are acidic, basic, or neutral: (c) NaClO

Verified Solution

Video duration:
3m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acid-Base Theory

Acid-base theory explains the behavior of substances in terms of their ability to donate protons (H+) or accept protons. According to the Brønsted-Lowry theory, acids are proton donors, while bases are proton acceptors. Understanding this concept is crucial for predicting the acidity or basicity of a solution.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:08
Bronsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory

Salt Hydrolysis

Salt hydrolysis occurs when an ionic compound dissolves in water and its ions interact with water molecules, potentially affecting the pH of the solution. In the case of NaClO, the sodium ion (Na+) is neutral, while the hypochlorite ion (ClO-) can react with water to form hypochlorous acid (HClO), influencing the solution's acidity.
Recommended video:

pH Scale

The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, ranging from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with 7 being neutral. A solution is considered acidic if it has a pH less than 7 and basic if greater than 7. Understanding the pH scale is essential for determining the nature of the solution formed by the dissolution of substances like NaClO.
Recommended video: