To determine which reaction yields a salt with the highest pH, we need to consider the nature of the reactants and how they influence the resulting salt solution.
1. Reaction: [tex]\( KOH + H_2SO_4 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( KOH \)[/tex] is a strong base.
- [tex]\( H_2SO_4 \)[/tex] is a strong acid.
- The reaction between a strong acid and a strong base produces a neutral salt and water, typically resulting in a solution with a pH around 7.
2. Reaction: [tex]\( Cu(OH)_2 + H_2SO_4 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( Cu(OH)_2 \)[/tex] is a weak base.
- [tex]\( H_2SO_4 \)[/tex] is a strong acid.
- The reaction between a weak base and a strong acid produces a slightly acidic salt solution, resulting in a pH less than 7.
3. Reaction: [tex]\( NH_4OH + HCl \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( NH_4OH \)[/tex] (ammonium hydroxide) is a weak base.
- [tex]\( HCl \)[/tex] is a strong acid.
- The reaction between a weak base and a strong acid produces a slightly acidic salt solution, resulting in a pH less than 7.
4. Reaction: [tex]\( NaOH + CH_3COOH \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( NaOH \)[/tex] is a strong base.
- [tex]\( CH_3COOH \)[/tex] (acetic acid) is a weak acid.
- The reaction between a strong base and a weak acid produces a basic salt solution because the strong base predominates, resulting in a pH greater than 7.
Thus, among the given reactions:
- [tex]\( KOH + H_2SO_4 \)[/tex] yields a neutral solution.
- [tex]\( Cu(OH)_2 + H_2SO_4 \)[/tex] yields an acidic solution.
- [tex]\( NH_4OH + HCl \)[/tex] yields an acidic solution.
- [tex]\( NaOH + CH_3COOH \)[/tex] yields a basic solution.
Since a basic solution has the highest pH compared to neutral and acidic solutions, the reaction that yields a salt with the highest pH is:
[tex]\( NaOH + CH_3COOH \)[/tex]
