Acid salt

Acid Salt

An acid salt is a type of salt that forms when a dibasic acid is only partially neutralized by a base. Acid salts are characterized by the presence of one or more replaceable hydrogen atoms in their structure, which can further react with bases to form normal salts. These salts are important in various chemical processes and have applications in different industries.

Formation

Acid salts are typically formed through the partial neutralization of a polyprotic acid. For example, when sulfuric acid (H_SO_) is partially neutralized by sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium bisulfate (NaHSO_) is formed:

H_SO_ + NaOH _ NaHSO_ + H_O

In this reaction, only one of the two acidic hydrogen atoms in sulfuric acid is replaced by a sodium ion, resulting in the formation of an acid salt.

Properties

Acid salts often retain some of the acidic properties of the parent acid. They can act as acids in solution, donating protons to bases. This property makes them useful in various applications where a mild acidic environment is required.

Examples

Ammonium Chloride

Ammonium chloride

Ammonium chloride (NH_Cl) is an example of an acid salt formed from the reaction of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with ammonia (NH_). It is commonly used in medicine as an expectorant and in the food industry as a flavoring agent.

Sodium Bisulfate

Sodium bisulfate

Sodium bisulfate (NaHSO_) is another acid salt, often used in cleaning products and as a pH adjuster in swimming pools. It is formed from the partial neutralization of sulfuric acid.

Monosodium Phosphate

Monosodium phosphate

Monosodium phosphate (NaH_PO_) is an acid salt derived from phosphoric acid (H_PO_). It is used in food processing and as a buffer in biochemistry.

Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate

Disodium hydrogen phosphate

Disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na_HPO_) is formed from the partial neutralization of phosphoric acid. It is used in detergents and as a food additive.

Applications

Acid salts have a wide range of applications due to their unique properties. They are used in the food industry as leavening agents, in medicine as buffering agents, and in industrial processes as cleaning agents. Their ability to act as mild acids makes them valuable in situations where a controlled acidic environment is necessary.

Related Pages

• Salt (chemistry)
• Acid (chemistry)
• Base (chemistry)
• Neutralization (chemistry)

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  Ammonium chloride
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  Sodium bisulfate
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  Monosodium phosphate
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  Disodium hydrogen phosphate

• 
  Ammonium chloride
• 
  Sodium bisulfate
• 
  Monosodium phosphate
• 
  Disodium hydrogen phosphate