Acidity/Basicity of salt

[MedHopeful234]

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Hey guys, I'm getting really confused on this question and feel like I've forgotten everything so I'm panicking slightly... Any help is much appreciated (My DAT is tomorrow)

This is a question off the OAT practice exam...Chlorine bleaches are solutions that contain approximately 5% NaClO. These solutions are

A. slightly acidic.
B. strongly acidic.
C. neutral.
D. slightly basic.
E. strongly basic

the answer is D. slightly basic.

I know that Na+ is salt of a strong base, which would be neutral or "negligible" according to Chad's videos. And HClO is a weak acid, so ClO- is a STRONG conj base no?

This would make the solution strongly basic...

 

[MedHopeful234]

I'd be grateful if someone can help with this before my exam tomorrow!

 

[datthirty]

Answer is D. slightly basic.

salt that formed by weak acid and strong base is BASIC.
salt that formed by strong acid and weak base is ACIDIC.
salt that formed by strong acid and strong base is NEUTRAL.

Good luck.

 

[datthirty]

You can understand like this,

HClO is a weak acid, so ClO- from NaClO will use some H+ from the solution, then leave some OH-, then the solution is a basic. Since the solution is only 5%, so it is a slight basic.

You can also understand following the Chad's logic,

Since ClO- is strong base, so it will combine with some H+, then leave some OH-, then the solution is slight basic.