Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.
Explanation:
A base is a substance that gives hydroxide ions (\(OH^{-}\)) upon dissociation in water. This means that a base increases the hydroxide ion concentration in a solution.
On the other hand, an acid is a substance that gives hydrogen ions (\(H^{+}\)) upon dissociation in water. This means that an acid increases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.
For example, \(S^{2-} + H_{2}O \rightarrow OH^{-} + SH^{-}\)
Since, sodium sulfide (\(Na_{2}S\)) dissociates to give hydroxide ions.
Hence, we can conclude that \(Na_{2}S\) is a base because it ionizes to release \(OH^{-}\).
