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Write Brief Answer · Q18

Q.Derive an expression for the hydrolysis constant and degree of hydrolysis of the salt of a strong acid and a weak base.

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Step 1. Take NH4ClNH_4Cl (strong acid HCl + weak base NH4OHNH_4OH) as the model: NH4++H2O⇌NH4OH+H+NH_4^++H_2O \rightleftharpoons NH_4OH+H^+, with Kh=[NH4OH][H+][NH4+]K_h=\dfrac{[NH_4OH][H^+]}{[NH_4^+]}.

Step 2. Combining this with the base's own equilibrium Kb=[NH4+][OH−][NH4OH]K_b=\dfrac{[NH_4^+][OH^-]}{[NH_4OH]}: multiplying Kh×Kb=[H+][OH−]=KwK_h\times K_b=[H^+][OH^-]=K_w, so Kh=KwKbK_h=\dfrac{K_w}{K_b}.

Step 3. As in Ostwald's dilution law, Kh=h2CK_h=h^2C (h = degree of hydrolysis, C = salt concentration), so h=Kh/C=KwKbCh=\sqrt{K_h/C}=\sqrt{\dfrac{K_w}{K_bC}}, and [H+]=hC=KhC=KwKbC[H^+]=hC=\sqrt{K_hC}=\sqrt{\dfrac{K_w}{K_b}C}. …

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