State whether each of the following statements is true or false. Justify your answer in each case. (a) NH3 contains no OH- ions, and yet its aqueous solutions are basic

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Identify the chemical formula and structure of ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is a compound consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms.

Understand the behavior of ammonia in water. When NH3 is dissolved in water, it reacts with water molecules to form ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-).

Write the chemical equation for the reaction of ammonia with water: NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq).

Analyze the presence of OH- ions. From the reaction, it is evident that OH- ions are produced, which are responsible for the basic nature of the solution.

Conclude that the statement 'NH3 contains no OH- ions, and yet its aqueous solutions are basic' is false because the basic nature of NH3 solutions is due to the presence of OH- ions produced in the reaction with water.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ammonia and Basicity

Ammonia (NH3) is a weak base that can accept protons (H+) from water, leading to the formation of ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution. This reaction increases the concentration of OH- ions, which is responsible for the basic nature of the solution, even though NH3 itself does not contain OH- ions.

Equilibrium in Aqueous Solutions

In aqueous solutions, a dynamic equilibrium exists between the reactants and products of a chemical reaction. For ammonia, the equilibrium between NH3, NH4+, and OH- illustrates how the presence of NH3 can lead to the generation of OH- ions, contributing to the basicity of the solution despite NH3 lacking OH- in its molecular structure.

pH and Basic Solutions

The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, with values below 7 indicating acidity and values above 7 indicating basicity. A basic solution has a higher concentration of OH- ions, which raises the pH. Therefore, the presence of OH- ions, even if generated from NH3, is what classifies the solution as basic.

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