Which of the following compounds is most basic?
(a)`NaCl`
(b)`Na2CO_3`
(c)`CH_3COONa`
(d)`NH_4Cl`

Options

A. `NaCl`
B. `Na2CO_3`
C. `CH_3COONa`
D. `NH_4Cl`

Explanation

To determine which of the given compounds is the most basic, we need to analyze each compound based on its acidic and basic properties.

1. **NaCl (Sodium Chloride)**:
- This is a salt formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a strong acid (HCl).
- Since both the acid and base are strong, NaCl is a neutral salt.
- The pH of a neutral salt is around 7.

2. **Na2CO3 (Sodium Carbonate)**:
- This salt is formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (H2CO3 - carbonic acid).
- Because it is derived from a strong base and a weak acid, Na2CO3 is a basic salt.
- The pH of sodium carbonate will be greater than 7.

3. **CH3COONa (Sodium Acetate)**:
- This salt is formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (CH3COOH - acetic acid).
- Similar to sodium carbonate, sodium acetate is also a basic salt.
- The pH of sodium acetate will also be greater than 7.

4. **NH4Cl (Ammonium Chloride)**:
- This salt is formed from a weak base (NH4OH - ammonium hydroxide) and a strong acid (HCl).
- Since it is derived from a weak base and a strong acid, NH4Cl is an acidic salt.
- The pH of ammonium chloride will be less than 7.

Now, we compare the basicity of the two basic salts: Na2CO3 and CH3COONa.

- **Comparison of Basicity**:
- Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is derived from carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is a weaker acid compared to acetic acid (CH3COOH).
- Since H2CO3 is a weaker acid, Na2CO3 will be more basic than CH3COONa.

**Conclusion**: The most basic compound among the options provided is **Na2CO3 (Sodium Carbonate)**.