For each salt, predict whether an aqueous solution has a pH...

For each salt, predict whether an aqueous solution has a pH less than, equal to, or greater than 7 . Explain your prediction.
(a) $\mathrm{AlCl}_{3}$
(b) $\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{~S}$
(c) $\mathrm{NaNO}_{3}$

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Key Concepts

Salt Hydrolysis

This concept involves the reaction of a salt with water to produce acidic or basic solutions. Whether a salt hydrolyzes to change the pH of the solution depends on the relative strengths of the parent acid and base from which it is derived, resulting in a solution that can be acidic, basic, or neutral.

Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

Understanding conjugate acid-base pairs is crucial because the salt’s constituent ions come from an acid and a base. The conjugate of a strong acid will be weakly basic or neutral, and the conjugate of a strong base will be weakly acidic or neutral. If one part is significantly stronger than the other, the solution's pH will shift accordingly.

Metal Cation Hydrolysis

Metal cations, especially those with high charge and small size, can attract water molecules and cause the water to lose a proton. This process, known as hydrolysis, results in the formation of acidic solutions. The acidity of the solution increases with the cation’s charge density.

Anion Hydrolysis

Anions derived from weak acids can interact with water to form their corresponding weak acid and hydroxide ions, leading to a basic solution. The degree of basicity depends on the strength of the parent weak acid and its conjugate base’s ability to accept protons from water.

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