Answer: option D. the ability of a base to react with a soluble metal salt.
Justification:
NaOH is a strong base, which means that in water it will dissociate according to this reaction:
- NaOH(aq) → Na⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq)
On the other hand, CuSO₄ is a soluble ionic salt which in water will dissociate into its ions according to this other reaction:
Hence, in solution, the sodium ion (Na⁺) will react with the metal salt in a double replacement reaction, where the highly reactive sodium ion (Na⁺) will substitute the Cu²⁺ in the CuSO₄ to form the sodium sulfate salt, Na₂SO₄ (water soluble), and the copper(II) hydroxide, Cu(OH)₂ (insoluble).
That is what the given reaction represents:
CuSO₄ (aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Cu(OH)₂(s) + Na₂SO₄(aq)
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
soluble metal salt strong base insoluble base solube salt
