Question

If a hydrate of the formula

MCly?xH2O decomposes when heated to produce HCl, what change would you expect to occur when a piece of blue litmus paper is held in the path of the vapor released? [Litmus paper is paper impregnated with an acid-base indicator that is blue in the presence of base and red in the presence of acid.]
Explain your answer

Answer 1

It will turn red

Step-by-step explanation:

Bases will turn the litmus paper (impregnated with an acid-base indicator) blue.

Acids will turn turn the litmus paper (impregnated with an acid-base indicator) red.

Since the produced HCl is a strong acid, the litmus paper will turn red, when touching the HCl.

The red shows the presence of an acid, in this case HCl.