Which of the following salt solutions will have a pH greater than 7?
Answer Details
Among the given options, Na2CO3(aq) is the only salt solution that can have a pH greater than 7. When Na2CO3 is dissolved in water, it undergoes hydrolysis to produce NaOH and HCO3- ions. The hydroxide ion concentration increases, which makes the solution basic. Hence, the solution will have a pH greater than 7. On the other hand, NaCl, Na2SO4, and NaHSO4 are all salts of strong acids and strong bases, or weak acids and strong bases, and therefore their solutions will be neutral or slightly acidic but never basic.