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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: jmg12 on March 16, 2011, 12:41:33 PM

Title: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: jmg12 on March 16, 2011, 12:41:33 PM
Which of the following common food additives would give a basic solution when dissolved in water?
A) NaNO3
B) NaC6H5CO2
C) Na2HPO4

I don't understand this section of this chapter at all.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: Nobby on March 16, 2011, 01:10:16 PM
Me either. LOL

What is meant by a basic solution. Probably the Phosphate.

I think the others shouldn't be add to Food at all.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: jmg12 on March 16, 2011, 01:12:34 PM
this section is really frustrating...
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: rabolisk on March 16, 2011, 03:44:01 PM
What do you not understand about this chapter?

A basic solution will result if a base dissolves in water. The question is simply, which one of those 3 are bases?

Also, all 3 are definitely used as food additives...
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: jmg12 on March 16, 2011, 06:26:42 PM
They all come from NaOH. NaNO3 would give neutral, right? Because it is from NaOH and HNO3. And both Nac6h5co2 and Na2HPO4 would give basic because it is from a weak acid and a strong base...is there something I'm missing?
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: rabolisk on March 16, 2011, 07:40:29 PM
That is correct. Although I understand the reasoning for saying that NaNO3 comes from NaOH and HNO3, I don't think you have to make it even that complicated. When a salt dissolves in water, you just simply look at the cation and the anion, and decide if they are acidic or basic. Na+ is not either, and if the anion is the conjugate base of a weak acid, then it must be at least slightly basic.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: jmg12 on March 16, 2011, 10:12:23 PM
How is it two answers? There has to be one lol. One of those two that I said is basic can't be...
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: rabolisk on March 17, 2011, 12:14:48 AM
The answer is both B and C. Does the solution only have B?
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: Nobby on March 17, 2011, 01:50:02 AM
Quote
What do you not understand about this chapter?

A basic solution will result if a base dissolves in water. The question is simply, which one of those 3 are bases?

In my knowledge basic means fundamental; of or pertaining to a base, never heard the word basic in this relationship.

If we talk for solutions which has high pH we saying its alkaline or caustic solution.

if the question would be : Which of the following common food additives would give a alkaline solution when dissolved in water?

Then its easy to answer.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: nj_bartel on March 17, 2011, 02:41:23 AM
Nobby - they're synonymous.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: Nobby on March 17, 2011, 08:56:35 AM
Well, English is not my mother language so its difficult sometimes to follow.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: jmg12 on March 17, 2011, 11:46:07 AM
No it's an even question so the answer is not in the back of my textbook. I guess it's both B and C because that's the only thing that makes sense. Thanks.
Title: Re: Which of the following food additives gives a basic solution when dissolved?
Post by: Nobby on March 17, 2011, 11:49:39 AM
Quote
No it's an even question so the answer is not in the back of my textbook. I guess it's both B and C because that's the only thing that makes sense

I would agree with that, Only benzoate and Phosphate gave alkaline reaction ,Basic reaction LOL. ;D :P