Question

Explain about the hydrolysis of salt of strong acid and a strong base with a suitable example.

Answer 1

1. Let us consider the neutralisation reaction between NaOH and HNO₃ to give NaNO₃ and water. NaOH_(aq) + HNO_3(aq) → NaNO_3(aq) + H₂O_(l)

2. The salt NaNO completely dissociates in water to produce Na⁺ and NO₃ ions

3. Water dissociates to a small extent as

H₂O₍₁₎ H⁺_(aq) + OH^- 

Since [H⁺] = [OH^-], water is neutral.

4. NO₃ ion is the conjugate base of strong acid HNO₃ and hence it has no tendency to react with  H^{​​​​+} , 

5. Similarly Na is the conjugate acid of the strong base NaOH and it has no tendency to react with OH 

6. It means that there is no hydrolysis. In such cases [H⁺] (OH^-), pH is maintained and there fore the solution is neutral.