Final answer:
Strontium acetate dissociates in water to form one strontium cation (Sr2+) and two acetate anions (C2H3O2-). The acetate ions may undergo hydrolysis creating OH- ions, resulting in a basic solution, categorizing strontium acetate as a basic salt.
Step-by-step explanation:
When strontium acetate (Sr(C2H3O2)2) dissociates in water, it forms ions as a result of the dissociation process. Strontium acetate will dissociate into one strontium cation (Sr2+) and two acetate anions (C2H3O2−). The dissociation equation can be written as follows:
Sr(C2H3O2)2 (aq) → Sr2+ (aq) + 2 C2H3O2− (aq)
The Sr2+ ions are inert in solution, but acetate ions can undergo hydrolysis because acetic acid is a weak acid. The hydrolysis of acetate ions can be represented as:
C2H3O2− (aq) + H2O (l) → HC2H3O2 (aq) + OH− (aq)
This results in the production of hydroxide ions (OH−), which make the solution basic, thus strontium acetate is considered a basic salt.