Final answer:
To identify ions that participate in hydrolysis reactions, consider if the salt contains the conjugate base of a weak acid or the conjugate acid of a weak base. Highly charged metal ions like Al3+ or Fe3+ in water usually create acidic solutions. The reactivity in hydrolysis can be predicted using ionization constants (Ka and Kb).
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify which ions react with water in a hydrolysis reaction, it is essential to understand that this type of reaction is an acid-base reaction where either a cation acts as an acid or an anion acts as a base. Salts containing the conjugate base of a weak acid or the conjugate acid of a weak base can undergo hydrolysis.
For example, in solutions of small, highly charged metal ions, such as Al3+ or Fe3+, water molecules can act as a base and accept a proton, leading to an acidic solution as hydronium ions (H3O+) are formed.
One can predict whether a salt will produce an acidic, neutral, or basic solution by looking at its constituent ions. If a salt contains a conjugate base of a weak acid, it tends to form a basic solution upon hydrolysis. Conversely, if a salt contains a conjugate acid of a weak base, it tends to form an acidic solution.
If both the anion and cation are conjugates of strong acids and bases, then the solution is likely to remain neutral. The ionization constants for acids and bases (Ka and Kb, respectively) are good indicators of their reactivity during hydrolysis.