Question

How to identify the parent acid and parent base in a salt?

Answer 1

Hint: When an acid and base get reacted it forms salt. The parent acid and the parent base can be determined by splitting the salt into cationic and anionic parts. The pH of salt will be neutral, that’s the reason when acid and base react the neutralization takes place. Since, the acid pH lies between \[pH\,\,1 - 6\] and base \[pH\] lies between \[pH\,\,8 - 14\].

Complete step by step answer:
An acid is a substance which can donate its proton. The base is a substance which can donate its hydroxyl ions. Base and an acid react to form salt and water. The hydroxyl comes from base and proton from acid to form water. A salt can be defined as the neutralization of a product from acid and base.

If you want to know how to determine the “parent acid” and “parent base” for a salt. Let’s consider one example as sodium chloride \[NaCl\] which is also known as table salt.
By breaking the sodium chloride (i.e., salt) and water then rejoining the cation from one and anion from other molecules, which will result in the formation of parent acid and parent base.
\[NaCl\,\] can be broken into, \[N{a^ + }\] and \[C{l^ - }\,\]
Water \[{H_2}O\] can be broken into, \[{H^ + }\] and \[O{H^ - }\]

Now, let's combine one cation and another molecule’s anion.
One will form base i.e., sodium hydroxide;
\[N{a^ + }\, + \,\,O{H^ - }\, \to \,\,NaOH\]
Another will form acid i.e., hydrochloric acid;
\[{H^ + }\, + \,\,C{l^ - }\, \to \,\,HCl\]
By this, we understood that the sodium chloride salt is the neutralization of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.

Note: Depending upon the strength of acid and base the neutralisation occurs and forms salt. Generally, the salts can be acidic or basic too depending upon the strength of both acid and base. If one is stronger that predominates the salt formation.