Most salts hydrolyze in aqueous solution.
Students study salts and the hydrolysis of their ions as a specialized type of acid-base system.
Knowledge of hydrolysis provides students with the ability to analyse many common solutions in terms of acid-base theory. Students complete dissociation equations to review the dissociation of salts in water as an introduction to the hydrolysis of ions. Students perform lab experiments with a large variety of salt solutions to determine the pH. The salts should include some in which neither cations nor anions hydrolyze, only cations hydrolyze, only anions hydrolyze, both ions hydrolyze, and amphiprotic ions hydrolyze. Analysis of the experimental results, combined with supplementary reading, leads students to an understanding of hydrolysis. Students apply their knowledge of hydrolysis to topics such as fertilizers, soil pH, baking powder, smelling salts, tooth decay, salts in medicine, and polluted water.