Hcl is a stronger acid than the ammonium ion (nh4+). which one of the following is true?

a) equilibrium constant for hydrolysis of hcl is smaller than that for nh4+
b) cl- is a weaker base than nh3
c) solutions of hcl will always have more hydrogen ions than solutions of nh3
d) ph of 0.1moll-1 solution of hcl will be greater than the ph of a 0.1 moll-1 solution of nh3

the answer is b, but could someone explain it to me? i though cl- was neutral, not basic?

The chloride ion is a weak conjugate base of a strong acid that is hydrochloric acid.

Explanation:

Weak conjugate bases are produced from strong acids, and strong conjugate bases are produced from weak acids.  Here hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, and when dissolved into water, it completely ionizes into H+ and Cl- ions.

Ammonia is the conjugate acid of NH2-ion which is a  strong base and becomes more stable by accepting a proton. Therefore, Cl- is an ionic species and also a conjugate base of a very strong acid.

the maximum mass of nh3 is nh3 in grams

as given the equation is

2al + 6 hcl > 2 alcl3 + 3 h2(g)

as per equation two moles of aluminum reacts with six moles of hcl to give two moles of alcl3 and three moles of hydrogen gas

given: three moles of al are present and 7 moles of hcl

for three moles of aluminum nine moles of hcl will be required

however as 7 moles of hcl are present so the limiting reagent is hcl

hcl is going to decide the number of moles of product formed

when six moles of hcl are present = 3 moles of h2 are formed

when one mole of hcl is present == 3/6 mole sof h2 will be formed

when 7 moles of hcl are present = 3 x 7/ 6 moles of h2 will be formed = 3.5 moles of h2