Hydrolysis

Learning Objectives
Predict the acidity of a salt solution.
Calculate the pH of a salt solution.
Calculate the concentrations of various ions in a salt solution.
Explain hydrolysis reactions.

A salt is formed between the reaction of an acid and a base. Usually, a neutral salt is formed when a strong acid and a strong
base are neutralized in the reaction:
+ −
H + OH ⇌ H O (1)
2

The bystander ions in an acid-base reaction form a salt solution. Most neutral salts consist of cations and anions listed in the
table below. These ions have little tendency to react with water. Thus, salts consisting of these ions are neutral salts. For
example: NaCl, KNO , CaBr , CsClO are neutral salts.
3 2 4

When weak acids and bases react, the relative strength of the conjugated acid-base pair in the salt determines the pH of its
solutions. The salt, or its solution, so formed can be acidic, neutral or basic. A salt formed between a strong acid and a weak
base is an acid salt, for example NH Cl. A salt formed between a weak acid and a strong base is a basic salt, for example
4

NaCH COO. These salts are acidic or basic due to their acidic or basic ions as shown in the Table 1 .
3

Table 1: Examples of Neutral, Acidic, and Basic Ions

Ions of neutral salts Acidic Ions Basic Ions

Cations Anions Cations Anions Anions

+ + − − + 3+ − 2− − −
Na K Cl Br NH Al HSO HPO F C H O
4 4 4 2 3 2

+ + − − 2+ 2+ − 3− − −
Rb Cs I ClO Pb Sn H PO PO NO HCO
4 2 4 4 2 3

2+ 2+ − − − 2−
Mg Ca BrO ClO CN CO
4 3 3

2+ 2+ − 2− 2−
Sr Ba NO S SO
3 4

Hydrolysis of Acidic Salts

A salt formed between a strong acid and a weak base is an acid salt. Ammonia is a weak base, and its salt with any strong acid
gives a solution with a pH lower than 7. For example, let us consider the reaction:
+ −
HCl + NH OH ⇌ NH + Cl +H O (2)
4 4 2

In the solution, the NH ion reacts with water (called hydrolysis) according to the equation:
+

+ +
NH + H O ⇌ NH +H O . (3)
4 2 3 3

The acidity constant can be derived from K and K . w b

+ −
[H O ][ NH ] [ OH ]
3 3
Ka = (4)
+ −
[ NH ] [ OH ]
4

Kw
= (5)
Kb

−14
1.00 × 10
−10
= = 5.7 × 10 (6)
−5
1.75 × 10

Example 1
What is the concentration of NH , NH , and H in a 0.100 M NH
+

4 3
+

4
NO
3
solution?

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 Solution
Assume that [NH 3
] =x , then [H
3
+
O ] =x , and you write the concentration below the formula in the reaction:
+ +
NH + H O ⇌ NH + H O
4 2 3 3

0.100 − x x x

Ka = 5.7E-10 (7)

2
x
= (8)
0.100 − x

Since the concentration has a value much greater than Ka, you may use
1/2
x = (0.100 × 5.7E(-10)) (9)

= 7.5E-6 (10)

+
[ NH ] = [ H ] = x = 7.5E-6 M (11)
3

pH = − log 7.5e-6 = 5.12 (12)

+
[ NH ] = 0.100 M
4

DISCUSSION
Since pH = 5.12, the contribution of [H +
] due to self ionization of water may therefore be neglected.

Hydrolysis of Basic Salts

A basic salt is formed between a weak acid and a strong base. The basicity is due to the hydrolysis of the conjugate base of the
(weak) acid used in the neutralization reaction. For example, sodium acetate formed between the weak acetic acid and the
strong base NaOH is a basic salt. When the salt is dissolved, ionization takes place:
+ −
NaAc ⇌ Na + Ac (13)

In the presence of water, Ac undergoes hydrolysis:

−

− −
H O + Ac ⇌ HAc + OH (14)
2

And the equilibrium constant for this reaction is Kb of the conjugate base Ac of the acid −
HAc . Note the following
equilibrium constants: Acetic acid (K = 1.75 × 10 ) and Ammonia (K = 1.75 × 10 )
a
−5
b
−5

−
[HAc][ OH ]
Kb = (15)
−
[ Ac ]
− +
[HAc][ OH ] [H ]
Kb = (16)
− +
[ Ac ] [H ]

[HAc]
− +
Kb = [ OH ][ H ] (17)
− +
[ Ac ][ H ]

Kw
= (18)
Ka

1.00e-14
= = 5.7e-10 (19)
1.75e-5

Thus,
Ka Kb = Kw

or
pKa + pKb = 14

for a conjugate acid-base pair. Let us look at a numerical problem of this type.

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Example 2
Calculate the [Na ], [Ac ], [H
+ − +
] and [OH −
] of a solution of 0.100 M NaAc (at 298 K). (Ka = 1.8E-5)
Solution
Let x represent [H ], then +

− −
H O + Ac ⇌ HAc + OH
2

0.100 − x x x

2
x 1E-14
= = 5.6E-10
0.100 − x 1.8E-5

Solving for x results in

− −−−−−− −−−−−−
x = √ 0.100 × 5.6E-10 (20)

= 7.5E-6 (21)

−
[ OH ] = [HAc] = 7.5E-6

+
[ Na ] = 0.100 F

DISCUSSION
This corresponds to a pH of 8.9 or [H +
] = 1.3E-9 .
Kw
Note that = Kb of Ac , so that Kb rather than Ka may be given as data in this question.
−

Ka

Salts of Weak Acids and Weak Bases

A salt formed between a weak acid and a weak base can be neutral, acidic, or basic depending on the relative strengths of the
acid and base.
If Ka(cation) > Kb(anion) the solution of the salt is acidic.
If Ka(cation) = Kb(anion) the solution of the salt is neutral.
If Ka(cation) < Kb(anion) the solution of the salt is basic.

Example 3
Arrange the three salts according to their acidity. NH CH COO
4 3
(ammonium acetate), NH CN
4
(ammonium cyanide),
and NH HC O (ammonium oxalate).
4 2 4

Ka (acetic acid) = 1.85E-5 ,

Ka (hydrogen cyanide) = 6.2E-10 ,
Ka (oxalic acid) = 5.6E-2 ,
Kb (NH ) = 1.8E-5
3
.
Solution
ammonium oxalate -- acidic, Ka (o) > Kb (NH ) 3

ammonium acetate -- neutral, Ka = Kb

ammonium cyanide -- basic, Ka (c) < Kb (NH ) 3

Questions
1. The reaction of an acid and a base always produces a salt as the by-product, true or false? (t/f)
2. Is a solution of sodium acetate acidic, neutral or basic?
3. Are solutions of ammonium chloride acidic, basic or neutral?
4. Calculate the pH of a 0.100 M KCN solution.
Ka (HCN) = 6.2e-10 , Kb (CN ) = 1.6E-5 .
−

5. The symbol Kb (HS ) is the equilibrium constant for the reaction:

−

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 a. HS
−
+ OH
− 2−
⇌ S +H O
2

b. HS
−
+ H O ⇌ H S + OH
2 2
−

c. HS
−
+H O ⇌ H O
2 3
+
+S
2−

d. HS
−
+H O
3
+
⇌ H S+H O
2 2

6. What symbol would you use for the equilibrium constant of

− + 2−
HS ⇌ H +S

Solutions
1. Answer true
Consider...
Water is the real product, while the salt is formed from the spectator ions.
2. Answer basic
Consider...
Acetic acid is a weak acid that forms a salt with a strong base, NaOH. The salt solution turns bromothymol-blue blue.
3. Answer acidic
Consider...
Ammonium hydroxide does not have the same strength as a base as HCl has as an acid. Ammonium chloride solutions turn
bromothymol-blue yellow.
4. Answer 11.1
Consider...
+ −
KCN → K + CN
− −
CN + H O ⇌ HCN + OH
2

(0.100 − x) x x

1/2
x = (0.100 × 1.5E-5) (22)

= 1.2E-3 (23)

pOH = 2.9 (24)

pH = 11.1 (25)

5. Answer b
Consider...
Write an equation for Kb yourself. Do not guess. The b. is the closest among the four.
6. Answer Ka
Consider...
This is the ionization of HS ; Ka for HS , or Ka for H S .
− −

2 2

Contributors and Attributions

Chung (Peter) Chieh (Professor Emeritus, Chemistry @ University of Waterloo)

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