Chapter 22, Problem 20R

To determine

To compare: The given pair of salt and soap.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The reaction of acid and base results in the formation of a salt and water. Thus, salts are formed after reaction of acid and base.

Soaps are known to be sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids.

The comparison is done as follows:

Salt	Soap
The species which dissociates into the respective ions in the aqueous solution. In a neutral salt, the concentration of hydrogen and hydroxide ions remains the same.	Soaps are formed from weak acid and strong base; thus, they are basic salts.
They are salty in taste.	As soaps are basic salts thus, they are bitter in taste.
Salt being neutral in nature does not change color of red and blue litmus paper.	Soaps being basic in nature turn red litmus paper blue and does not change the color of blue litmus paper.
The pH value for a salt solution is 7 because it is neutral.	The pH value for a basic solution is greater than 7.
Example of salt used in everyday life is sodium chloride (NaCl).	Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids.

Conclusion:

Thus, a neutral salt is different from soaps because soaps are basic salts. Soaps contain weak acid and strong base; thus, the soap solution have pH value more than 7. In case of neutral salt, the dissociation is complete and there is no change in the concentration of hydrogen and hydroxide ions of water thus, pH remains 7.