Question

Potassium formate (HCOOK) is a salt formed from the neutralization reaction between HCOOHand KOH. Explain whether the aqueous solutions of the salt, potassium formate (HCOOK) willbe acidic, basic or neutral. Explain your answer in terms of hydrolysis of ions, with appropriatehydrolysis reaction.

Answer 1

We need to use that

In order to clasify the salt we need to use that:

- A neutral solution is formed when a strong acid reacts with a strong base

- An acidic solution is formed when a strong acid reacts with a weak base

- A basic solution is formed when a weak acid reacts with a strong base.

In this case, we have a weak acid and a strong base. Then, the solution is a basic solution.

Explaining it in terms of hydrolysis,

When dissolving HCOOK in water, as it is a strong electrolyte, it will be completely dissociated:

`HCOOK+H2O\to HCOOH+KOH`

- the strong base kOH, has very little acid character so it will not react with water

- HCOOH, which being the conjugate base of a weak acid, H2COOH, will be strong enough to capture protons to water, which will behave like an acid, undergoing the hydrolysis reaction:

`HCOOH+H2O\to H2COOH+OH`

The presence of OH ions in the aqueous solution gives it a certain basic character, which will depend on the degree of intensity with which the previous hydrolysis equilibrium is shifted "to the right".

ANSWER:

The solution is a basic solution.