Question
State the difference between neutral, acidic and basic salts. Give one example of each.
Answer
Neutral salts
(1) Formed by the reaction of a strong acid and a strong base.
(2) Do not change the colour of litmus paper.
Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl)
Acidic salts
(1) Formed by the reactions of a strong acid and a weak base.
(2) Change the colour of blue litmus to red.
Example: Aluminium chloride (AlCl3)
Basic salts
(1) Formed by the reaction of a weak acid and a strong base.
(2) Change the colour of red litmus to blue. Example: Sodium acetate (CH3COONa)