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If the salt cation is the counterion of a strong base and the anion is the conjugate base of a weak acid, a/n _________ solution will be formed.

a) Acidic
b) Neutral
c) Basic
d) None of the above

User Punker
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Final answer:

When a salt's cation comes from a strong base and its anion is the conjugate base of a weak acid, the solution formed is basic. This is because the anion can react with water, forming OH- ions which increase the pH.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the salt cation is the counterion of a strong base and the anion is the conjugate base of a weak acid, a basic solution will be formed. The correct answer is option c) Basic.

Salt solutions' acidity or basicity is determined by the nature of the ions in solution. Since the salt in question produces a cation from a strong base, it does not affect the pH significantly. However, the anion, being the conjugate base of a weak acid, will undergo hydrolysis and react with water to form OH- ions, which results in an increase in the pH of the solution, making it basic.

In summary, when the anion of a salt is the conjugate base of a weak acid, it will increase the pH of the solution, resulting in a basic solution when dissolved in water.

User Frank Yucheng Gu
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