The pH of 0.1 M solution of the following compounds...

The pH of $0.1$ M solution of the following compounds increases in the order (a) $\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{HCl}$ (b) $\mathrm{HCl}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NaCN}$ (c) $\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{HCl}$ (d) $\mathrm{HCl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}$

The pH of $0.1$ M solution of the following compounds increases in the order
(a) $\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{HCl}$
(b) $\mathrm{HCl}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NaCN}$
(c) $\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{HCl}$
(d) $\mathrm{HCl}<\mathrm{NaCl}<\mathrm{NaCN}<\mathrm{NH}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}$

Key Concepts

Conjugate Acid–Base Pairs

This concept explains how the strength of an acid or a base is inversely related to the strength of its conjugate. In salt solutions, the pH effect is largely determined by the tendency of the conjugate base or acid (derived from weak base or weak acid, respectively) to hydrolyze in water, which alters the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution.

Acidic and Basic Salts

Salts derived from a strong acid and a weak base tend to produce acidic solutions, while those from a weak acid and a strong base generate basic solutions. This is due to the propensity of the ions to react with water, releasing H+ from the cation in acidic salts or generating OH– from the anion in basic salts. Recognizing this distinction is essential for predicting the pH order of different salt solutions.

Acid–Base Hydrolysis

This concept refers to the reaction of salt ions with water, resulting in the formation of either acidic or basic solutions. When an ion from a salt interacts with water, it can generate H+ or OH–, thereby altering the pH of the solution. This reaction is critical for predicting the pH behavior of various salt solutions.

Neutral Salts

Salts formed from a strong acid and a strong base generally do not undergo significant hydrolysis because both the cation and anion are neutral in the context of acid–base reactions. This results in solutions with a pH close to 7, which is important for understanding and categorizing the pH effects of salts in aqueous solutions.

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