Question 1: Define a salt in terms of its chemical composition.

Answer: A salt is an ionic compound formed from the reaction of an acid and a base, consisting of a positive ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion).

Question 2: Explain the general chemical reaction that occurs when making a salt from an acid and a base.

Answer: An acid reacts with a base in a neutralization reaction, producing a salt and water. For example, acid + base → salt + water.

Question 3: Describe why salts are important in environmental science and climate change.

Answer: Salts can influence soil and water chemistry, affect plant growth, and are involved in processes like carbon capture and storage, which are relevant to climate change mitigation.

Question 1: Calculate the amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) produced when 50 mL of hydrochloric acid (concentration 0.1 M) reacts completely with excess sodium hydroxide.

Answer: 0.25 moles of NaCl are produced.

Question 2: If 100 grams of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) reacts completely with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), what mass of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) salt is formed? (Molar mass of H₂SO₄ = 98 g/mol, CaSO₄ = 136 g/mol)

Answer: Approximately 136 grams of calcium sulfate are formed.

Question 1: Describe a simple experimental method to produce a salt in a school laboratory, including safety precautions.

Answer: Mix an acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid) with an excess of a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) in a beaker. Filter the solution to remove excess base, then evaporate the solution to crystallize the salt. Safety precautions include wearing gloves, goggles, and working in a well-ventilated area.

Question 2: Identify how salts formed from acid-base reactions can be used in environmental applications to mitigate climate change effects.

Answer: Salts like calcium carbonate can be used to neutralize acidic soils and capture carbon dioxide, helping reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change.

Question 1: A factory releases sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the atmosphere, which reacts with water to form sulfuric acid, contributing to acid rain. Explain how making salts from sulfuric acid can help reduce environmental damage.

Answer: By capturing sulfuric acid or its precursors and converting them into stable salts like calcium sulfate, factories can reduce acid rain. Using salt formations in carbon capture or neutralization processes helps mitigate the environmental impact of sulfur emissions, thereby helping combat climate change.