Upper Level Educational Institute

Chemistry

Salts
A salt is a compound formed when some or all the hydrogen ions in an acid are replaced by a
metal or ammonium ions.
The metal or ammonium ions can come from the metal itself, a base, a carbonate or a hydrogen
carbonate. Salts are ionic compounds which contain at least one metal or ammonium cation
and one anion derived from the acid.

Classification of salts
Salts can be classified into two groups:
• Normal salts are formed when all the H+ ions in an acid are replaced by a metal or
ammonium ions.
e.g. 2 KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → K2SO4(aq) + 2 H2O(l)
Potassium sulphate is a normal salt. All acids can form normal salts.

• Acid salts are formed when the H+ ions in an acid are only partially replaced by a metal
or ammonium ions.
e.g. KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → KHSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
Potassium hydrogensulphate is an acid salt. Only dibasic and tribasic acids can form acid
salts.
In the two reactions above:
• A normal salt is produced when 2 mol of potassium hydroxide (KOH) reacts with 1 mol
of sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
• An acid salt is produced when 1 mol of potassium hydroxide (KOH) reacts with 1 mol of
sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
Salts formed by some common acids
Acid Salts formed Anion Type of Name of the sodium Formula
present salt salt
-
Hydrochloric chlorides Cl normal sodium chloride NaCl
acid(HCl)
Nitric acid nitrates NO3- normal sodium nitrate NaNO3
(HNO3)

Ethanoic acid ethanoates CH3COO- normal sodium ethanoate CH3COONa

(CH3COOH)
Sulphuric sulphates SO42- normal sodium sulphate Na2SO4
acid(H2SO4)
 HSO4- acid sodium NaHSO4
hydrogensulphate

Carbonic carbonates CO32- normal sodium carbonate Na2CO3

acid(H2CO3)
HCO3- acid sodium NaHCO3
hydrogencarbonate

Water of crystallisation
This is fixed proportion of water molecules held within the crystal lattice of a salt. Salts
containing water of crystallisation are hydrated salts and the formula shows the water
of crystallisation, e.g. CuSO4.5H2O represents hydrated copper (II) sulphate. Water of
crystallisation is responsible for the shape and colour of crystals. If water of
crystallisation is removed by heating, the salt becomes anhydrous and loses its
crystalline structure and its colour may change.
heat
e.g. CuSO4.5H2O(s) → CuSO4(s) + 5 H 2O(g)
blue crystals white powder
(hydrated) (anhydrous)

Methods of preparation of salts

When preparing any salt, the following must be taken into account:
• The solubility of the salt being prepared.
• The solubility of the reactants being used to prepare the salt.

Common ionic compounds which are soluble in water

Compounds Solubility in water Exceptions

Potassium, sodium soluble None
and ammonium
compounds
Nitrates soluble None
Chlorides soluble Silver chloride and lead (II) chloride are
insoluble.
Sulphates soluble Calcium sulphate, barium sulphate and lead (II)
sulphate are insoluble.
Ethanoates soluble None

Common ionic compounds which are insoluble in water

 Compounds Solubility in water Exceptions
Carbonates Insoluble Potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and
ammonium carbonate are soluble.
Hydroxides Insoluble Potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and
ammonium hydroxide are soluble.
Oxides Insoluble Potassium oxide, sodium oxide and calcium
oxide react with water to form soluble
hydroxides.

Preparation of soluble salts

• Reactive metal and acid

• Insoluble base and acid
• Insoluble carbonate and acid
• Titration (for preparing potassium, sodium and ammonium salts

• Reactive metal and acid

The reactive metals are magnesium,aluminium, zinc and iron.
Potassium, sodium and calcium will react too dangerously with acids.
Lead will react extremely slow with acids while copper and silver will not react with
dilute acids.
Method:
1. Place the acid in a beaker and add some pieces of the metal to it.
2. Keep adding the metal until effervescence (fizzing) stops and the metal is
present in excess.
3. Filter to remove the excess metal.
4. Evaporate the filtrate to a small volume.
5. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to crystallise.
6. Dry the crystals with absorbent paper.
e.g. Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → Zn SO4(aq) + H2(g)

• Insoluble base and acid

The method is similar to the method above. However, the acid solution is heated.
e.g. MgO(s) + 2 HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2O(l)

• Insoluble carbonate and acid

The method is similar to the method above. Heat is not necessary.
e.g. CuCO3(s) + 2 HNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

• Titration
 This method is used for preparing potassium, sodium and ammonium salts.
Method:
1. Place the acid in a burette and adjust the burette to the zero mark.
2. Pipette the alkali into a clean conical flask.
3. Add two drops of an indicator such as methyl orange or phenolphthalein.
4. Add the acid from the burette to the alkali in the conical flask. Shake the conical
flask gently.
5. When the indicator changes colour, note the burette reading. Hence, record the
volume of acid that was added.
6. Repeat the titration using a clean conical flask but do not add any indicator.
Add the same volume of acid that was used.
7. Evaporate the salts solution to a small volume.
8. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to crystallise.
9. Dry the crystals with absorbent paper.

Preparation of insoluble salts

Ionic precipitation
Insoluble salts are prepared by mixing two soluble salts. The insoluble salt is separated
by filtration.
Method:
1. Dissolve each salt in water to make two solutions.
2. Mix the solutions to form a precipitate.
3. Filter to separate the precipitate.
4. Wash the precipitate (residue) with distilled water.
5. Dry the residue.
e.g. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → 2 NaNO3(aq) + PbSO4(s)

Ionic equation: Pb2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) → PbSO4(s)