Question

Write the name and formula of a basic salt.

Answer 1

Hint: As we know salt is a chemical compound consisting of an ionic assembly of cations and anions. We also know that salts can form acidic and basic solutions if their cations and anions are hydrolyzable means able to react with water.

Complete step by step answer
As the name suggests basic salts are also called alkali salts that are the product of the neutralization of a strong base and a weak acid.
Now what makes these compounds basic is that the conjugate base from the weak acid hydrolysis to form a basic solution.

Let us understand the concept of basic salt through the example:
Sodium carbonate \[\left( N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}} \right)\], the carbonate from the carbonic acid hydrolysis to form a basic solution.

Now let us discuss the sodium carbonate in brief: as we know sodium carbonate also known as washing soda, soda crystals or soda ash is the inorganic hydrates with the chemical formula \[\left( N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}} \right)\]. All forms of sodium carbonate are white, water-soluble salts. They have strongly alkaline taste moderately alkaline solutions in water.
Sodium carbonate is a basic salt which is formed by the combination of sodium hydroxide and carbonic acid.

Now we know sodium hydroxide NaOH is a strong base, while carbonic acid \[{{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}\] is a weak acid that results in the formation of sodium carbonate salt.

Now let us see the chemical reaction of sodium carbonate:
\[2NaOH+{{H}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}\to N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}+2{{H}_{2}}O\]
Therefore, sodium carbonate is a basic salt with the formula \[\left( N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}} \right)\].

Note: Remember do not confuse here between basic salt and an alkali because an alkali is the soluble hydroxide compound of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal whereas, a basic salt that hydrolyzes to form a basic solution.