Question

Give reason for the following:

Sodium hydrogen sulphate is not an acid but it dissolves in water to give hydrogen ions, according to the equation

\[\ce{NaHSO4 <=> H+ + Na+ + SO^2-_4}\]

Answer 1

Sodium hydrogen sulphate [NaHSO₄] is an acid salt and is formed by the partial replacement of the replaceable hydrogen ion in a dibasic acid [H₂SO₄]. The [H] atom in NaHSO₄ makes it behave like an acid.

So, on dissolving in water, it gives hydrogen ions.