A Quick Reference on Anion Gap and Strong Ion Gap

Carlos Torrente Artero1

  • 1Servei d'Urgències i Medicina Intensiva (SUMI), Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari-UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona.

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Salts with Acidic Ions
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
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