An aqueous solution of iron(III) chloride, FeCl_3, exhibits an acidic pH because the Fe^{3… — JAMB UTME

An aqueous solution of iron(III) chloride, $FeCl_3$ , exhibits an acidic pH because the $Fe^{3+}$ ion undergoes cation hydrolysis in water.

Answer: Answer

True

The statement is correct because iron(III) chloride (

FeCl_3

) is a salt of a weak base (

Fe(OH)_3

) and a strong acid (

HCl

). The

Fe^{3+}

cation undergoes hydrolysis in water to liberate

H^+

ions, resulting in an acidic solution.

Identify the parent acid and base of iron(III) chloride (

FeCl_3

Parent base is iron(III) hydroxide (

Fe(OH)_3

, weak) and parent acid is hydrochloric acid (

HCl

, strong).

Salts composed of weak base cations and strong acid anions produce acidic solutions upon hydrolysis.

Determine which ion undergoes salt hydrolysis.

Fe^{3+}

reacts with water molecules, while

Cl^-

remains an unreactive spectator ion.

Anions of strong acids do not hydrolyze, but cations of weak bases undergo cation hydrolysis to yield excess

H^+

ions.

Conclude the acid-base nature of the resulting solution.

The concentration of

H^+

increases, resulting in a solution pH less than 7.

Since cation hydrolysis releases

H^+

ions, the statement that

FeCl_3

forms an acidic solution is True.

Cation hydrolysis of salts formed from a weak base and a strong acid

Question