Final answer:
Li3PO4, when dissolved in water, produces the most basic solution due to its anion, HPO42-, which is amphiprotic and has a significant second dissociation constant, K2, leading to the formation of OH- ions and a higher pH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked which salt, when dissolved in water, produces the solution with the highest pH. Among Li3PO4, CaO, KClO4, NaHSO3, and NaF, the one that will create the most basic (highest pH) solution is Li3PO4. This is because Li+ is an inert cation and will not affect the pH of the solution, while the HPO42- anion is amphiprotic and can accept a proton from water, creating OH- ions and increasing the pH of the solution.
The second dissociation constant (K2) of HPO42- is 4.2 × 10-13, therefore, the production of OH- is significant enough to make the solution basic. The value provided K1 being much greater than Ka indicates that the anion will more readily act as a base rather than an acid, leading to a basic solution when Li3PO4 is dissolved in water.