A salt that could decrease the ionization of HCOl in soln is probably

Question

a. NaOH
b. NaCl
c. NaOCl
d. NaH
e. none of these

how would you solve this

Answer 1

First, I would look in my books and try to figure out what the heck HCOI is? I assume this is HOCl, hypochlorous acid.
Look at the ionization equation, since that's what the question is about.
HOCl ==> H^+ + OCl^-

Now look at the possibilities.
a. Add NaOH. That reacts with H^+ to form water, removing water shifts the equilibrium to the right which increases and not decreases the ionization so a can't be right.

b. NaCl has no effect on anything.

c. NaOCl is a salt that ionizes to produce Na^+ and OCl^-. The addition of OCl forces the equilibrium to the left which means less ionization and that's what we want so I pick c.

d. NaH.This gives us the hydride ion (H^-) in solution which will combine with H^+ to form H2. That removes H^+ from solution, the reaction shifts to the right, that's more ionization and not less so we don't pick d.