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Which one of these salts makes a chemical reaction with vinegar?
INeedSerotonin:
Hello
I was doing chemistry exercises, and I found this one that mentioned three salts: NH4NO3, Na2CO3, and NaNO3. It proceeds to mention that each of these is in its own container in an aqueous solution.
Then it asks, "which one of these can react with vinegar?"
I know the answer is Na2CO3, but I don't know why the others can't make a chemical reaction with vinegar. Can anybody here explain it to me or give me a hint?
Thank you
Borek:
Do you know what a spectator is?
Can you think of any reaction with acetic acid in which any of the ions present in the two other solutions could take place?
jeffmoonchop:
What is the pH of each solution before you add vinegar?
INeedSerotonin:
--- Quote from: Borek on July 15, 2019, 06:19:55 PM ---Do you know what a spectator is?
--- End quote ---
I didn't, but now I know. How can I resolve this exercise with this knowledge?
--- Quote from: Borek on July 15, 2019, 06:19:55 PM ---Can you think of any reaction with acetic acid in which any of the ions present in the two other solutions could take place?
--- End quote ---
Yes!
CH3COOH + NH4+NO3- ---> CH3COO(NH4)+ + HNO3
And
CH3COOH + Na+NO3- ---> CH3COO(Na)+ + HNO3
INeedSerotonin:
--- Quote from: jeffmoonchop on July 15, 2019, 06:22:57 PM ---What is the pH of each solution before you add vinegar?
--- End quote ---
I believe that, in pH order, it goes like NH4NO3, NaNO3, Na2CO3. So Na2CO3 acts like a basic salt, and thus it should react with vinegar (an acid). NH4OH is a weak base, and HNO3 is a strong acid; NaOH is a strong base, and HNO3 is a strong acid; and NaOH is a strong base, and H2CO3 is a weak acid.
This is how the answer made sense to me, but I don't know how to calculate the exact values of pH from such little information. Shouldn't the others react with vinegar too?
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