An aqueous solution of CaCI2 isA. acidic solutionB. alkaline solutionC. a buffer solutionD. a neutral solution

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the nature of CaCl₂ in solution: Understand how calcium chloride ionizes in water and its impact on pH.
2. Evaluate the resulting solution: Determine if the solution is acidic, alkaline, or neutral based on the ions present.

Relevant Concepts

1. Dissociation of CaCl₂: Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) dissociates in water to form $\text{Ca}^{2+}$ ions and $2\text{Cl}^{-}$ ions.
2. pH Assessment: To assess the pH of the solution, we need to analyze the properties of the ions formed.

Analysis and Detail

1. Calcium Ion ($\text{Ca}^{2+}$): It is a cation and does not significantly affect the acidity or basicity of the solution.
2. Chloride Ion ($\text{Cl}^{-}$): This is the conjugate base of hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is a strong acid. The presence of $\text{Cl}^{-}$ does not contribute to basicity in a significant way.

Since CaCl₂ is a salt formed from a strong acid (HCl) and a strong base (Ca(OH)₂), the resulting solution tends to be neutral.

Verify and Summarize

Based on the dissociation and the nature of the ions:

• $\text{Ca}^{2+}$ (comes from a strong base)
• $\text{Cl}^{-}$ (comes from a strong acid)

The overall behavior of the solution leans towards a neutral pH level.

Final Answer

D. a neutral solution.