Subject:  Salt Solutions

Salt solutions - Hydrolysis of Ions

        In general
        ----------

        Cations - give ACIDIC solutions

                exceptions:  Group 1A and 2A  metal cations do NOT act
                             as acids.  They make the solution neutral.
			     (Mg^2+ is very slightly acidic)

        Anions - give BASIC solutions

                exceptions:  The conjugate bases of the 7 strong acids
                             do NOT act as bases in solution.  Six of
                             them give a neutral solution and one gives
                             an acidic solution.

                             Neutral: Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, ClO3-, ClO4-
                             Acidic:  HSO4-

        Examples
        --------

               H2O
        NaCl  ----->     Na+    +    Cl-
                        neutral     neutral

                so the resulting solution is NEUTRAL (pH = 7)

               H2O
        NaF   ----->     Na+    +    F-
                        neutral     basic

                so the resulting solution is BASIC (pH > 7)


                H2O
        NH4Cl  ----->     NH4+    +    Cl-
                         acidic      neutral

                so the resulting solution is ACIDIC (pH < 7)


                   H2O
        Fe(NO3)2  ----->     Fe^2+    +    2 NO3^-
                            acidic          neutral


                so the resulting solution is ACIDIC (pH < 7)


               H2O
        FeF2  ----->     Fe^2+    +    2 F-
                         acidic        basic

                Whether it is acidic or basic depends on the relative
                sizes of the Ka for Fe^2+ and the Kb for F-.  If

                Ka > Kb         Acidic

                Ka < Kb         Basic