Which of the following compounds is responsible for producing hydroxide ions during hydrolysis?

When considering compounds that produce hydroxide ions during hydrolysis, it's essential to understand the nature of each type mentioned. Hydrolysis generally involves the reaction of a substance with water, which can lead to the formation of hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

Conjugate bases, which are the species formed when an acid donates a proton, can react with water to produce hydroxide ions. For instance, if you have a weak acid that dissociates in water, its conjugate base can accept a proton from water, thus generating hydroxide ions and resulting in an increase in pH. This phenomenon is typically observed with weak acids such as acetic acid (where acetate is the conjugate base) or ammonia (where the ammonium ion acts as the conjugate acid). Through this process, the presence of conjugate bases leads to an increase in the number of hydroxide ions available.

In contrast, strong acids completely dissociate in water, releasing hydrogen ions (H⁺) and not generating hydroxide ions. Weak acids produce a minimal amount of hydroxide ions through their weak dissociation and hydrolysis, but they do not directly contribute to the hydroxide ion concentration as effectively as their conjugate bases. Strong bases, while they do