Question

Write the chemical formula of ammonium chloride. Explain why an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride is acidic in nature? Illustrate your answer with the help of a chemical equation.

 

Answer 1

The chemical formula of ammonium chloride is NH₄Cl. It is formed from a weak base, ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), and a strong acid, hydrochloric acid (HCl). On dissolving in water, NH₄Cl hydrolyses to some extent to form ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid that is fully ionised to give a large amount of H⁺ (hydrogen) ions and ammonium hydroxide is a weak base that is slightly ionised to give a small amount of OH^-(hydroxide) ions. As ammonium chloride contains more H⁺ ions than OH^- ions, it is acidic with a pH less than 7.