Answer
a) Acidic
b) Acidic.
c) Essentially neutral
d) Basic
e) Acidic.
Work Step by Step
a) $N{H_4}^+$: Weak acid; $HS{O_4}^-$: Weak acid. So, the salt is acidic.
b) $N{H_4}^+$: Weak acid and $S{O_4}^{2-}$: Weak base.
- Compare it's constants values:
We don't have them, but we can compare the values for its conjugate partner.
$K_a (HS{O_4}^-) > K_b (NH_3)$
Therefore:
$K_b(S{O_4}^-) < K_a(N{H_4}^+)$
$K_a > K_b$: acidic solution.
c) $LiCl$ is a salt of strong base $(LiOH)$ and strong acid $(HCl)$; therefore, it is essentially neutral.
d) $LiBrO$: Strong base $(LiOH)$ and weak acid $(HOBr)$; therefore, this solution is basic.
e) $AlCl_3$: Lewis acid $(Al^{3+})$ and strong acid $(HCl)$: this solution is acidic.
