Chapter 18

Salts and neutralization

18.1 Neutralization
18.2 Exothermic nature of neutralization
18.3 Naming of common salts
18.4 Preparation of salts
18.5 Applications of neutralization
Key terms
Progress check
Summary
Concept map

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18.1 Neutralization Animation
(Neutralization of
What is neutralization? acid and alkali)

Neutralization is an acid and a base neutralize

each other.
The products are salt and water only.
neutralization
acid + base salt + water

Neutralization between acid and alkali

The solution becomes neutral.
HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
acid alkali salt water

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 H+

Cl–

Na+
hydrochloric acid
Cl–
+ neutralization
H 2O
Na+

OH– sodium chloride solution

sodium hydroxide solution

Figure 18.1 Changes of particles in the neutralization reaction between
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution. (Water molecules are not
shown in the diagrams of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution).
18.1 Neutralization

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Written in ionic form:
H+(aq) + Cl–(aq) + Na+(aq) + OH–(aq) → Na+(aq) + Cl–(aq) + H2O(l)

Na+(aq) and Cl–(aq) are spectator ions in the

reaction.

ionic equation:
H+(aq) + OH–(aq) → H2O(l)

Key point
salt + water
acid + alkali → _____

18.1 Neutralization

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Neutralization between acid and insoluble metal
hydroxide
Iron(III) hydroxide is an insoluble base.
Dilute nitric acid reacts with iron(III) hydroxide to
form iron(III) nitrate and water.
3HNO3(aq) + Fe(OH)3(s) → Fe(NO3)3(aq) + 3H2O(l)
acid insoluble metal salt water
hydroxide

Written in ionic form:

3H+(aq) + Fe(OH)3(s) → Fe3+(aq) + 3H2O(l)

18.1 Neutralization

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 iron(III) hydroxide iron(III) nitrate
solution

Figure 18.2 Dilute nitric acid reacts with iron(III) hydroxide to form
iron(III) nitrate and water.

Key point
salt + water
acid + insoluble metal hydroxide → _____

18.1 Neutralization

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Neutralization between acid and insoluble metal
oxide
Copper(II) oxide is an insoluble base.
Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with copper(II) oxide to
form copper(II) sulphate and water.
H2SO4(aq) + CuO(s) → CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
acid insoluble salt water
metal oxide
Written in ionic form:
2H+(aq) + CuO(s) → Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l)
Think about

18.1 Neutralization

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 heating
copper(II) sulpate
copper(II) oxide solution

Figure 18.3 Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with copper(II) oxide to

form copper(II) sulphate and water.

Key point
acid + insoluble metal oxide → _____
salt + water

18.1 Neutralization

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 Key point
Neutralization is the combination of hydrogen
ions H+ and hydroxide ions OH– (or oxide ions O2–)
H2O In the process,
water molecules _____.
to form ______
salt is produced.

Example 18.1 Class practice 18.1

18.1 Neutralization

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18.2 Exothermic nature of neutralization
The set-up for measuring the temperature change
of neutralization.

HCl (aq)
thermometer

expanded polystyrene
cup
NaOH(aq)
Figure 18.4 A simple set-up for
beaker
measuring the temperature
change during neutralization. air

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There is a rise in temperature of the reaction
mixture during neutralization reaction.
All neutralization reactions give out heat.
Learning tip
The experimental and calculation methods for
determining the heat change of neutralization will
be further discussed in Book 3B, Chapter 34.
Key point
Neutralization is an ___________
exothermic reaction.
Experiment 18.1 Skill corner 18.1
Example 18.2

Experiment 18.1 Class practice 18.2

18.2 Exothermic nature of neutralization

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18.3 Naming of common salts
A salt and its parent acid
Hydrochloric acid is the parent acid of sodium
chloride.

ionizable hydrogen hydrogen atom

atom replaced by metal ion

H Cl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → Na Cl(aq) + H2O(l)

parent acid salt

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 Ethanoic acid is the parent acid of sodium
ethanoate.
ionizable hydrogen hydrogen atom
atom replaced by metal ion
CH3COO H (aq) + NaOH(aq) → CH3COO Na (aq) + H2O(l)
parent acid salt

A salt consists of a cation and an anion.

The cation comes from a base (or alkali).
The anion comes from a parent acid.
In formulae of salts formed from inorganic acids,
the cation is usually written first.
18.3 Naming of common salts

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 In formulae of salts formed from organic acids,
the anion is usually written first.
Parent acid + base Salt formed

H NO3 + NaOH Na NO3 sodium nitrate

nitric acid
HH Cl + NH3 NH4 Cl ammonium chloride
hydrochloric acid
CH3COO H + NaOH CH3COO Na sodium ethanoate
ethanoic acid
HH22 SO4 + CuO Cu SO4 copper(II) sulphate
sulphuric acid
Table 18.1 Formation of some salts from different acids.
18.3 Naming of common salts

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 Key point
A salt is a compound formed when the ionizable
hydrogen atom(s) of an acid is/are replaced by
__________
metal ion(s) (or ammonium ion(s)).

18.3 Naming of common salts

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Rules for naming a salt
Rule Description Example
The name of the cation (i.e. metal
Na2SO4 is sodium
1 ion or ammonium ion) always
sulphate
comes first.
If the metal can form more than one FeCl2 is iron(II)
kind of cations, a Roman numeral in chloride
2
brackets has to be written to show FeCl3 is iron(III)
the oxidation number of the cation. chloride
Table 18.2 Rules for naming a salt.

18.3 Naming of common salts

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 Rule Description Example
If the salt contains one metallic
element and one non-metallic
NaCl is sodium
3 element, the name of the metal
chloride
comes first and the name of the
non-metal ends in –ide.
(NH4)2CO3 is
If the anion of the salt is a ammonium carbonate
polyatomic ion which contains K2SO4 is potassium
4
oxygen, the name ends in –ate sulphate
or –ite. K2SO3 is potassium
sulphite
Table 18.2 Rules for naming a salt.

Example 18.3 Class practice 18.3

18.3 Naming of common salts

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18.4 Preparation of salts
General methods of preparing salts
The method used depends on whether the salt is
soluble or insoluble in water.

Solubility
Salt Remarks
in water
Potassium, sodium
Soluble
and ammonium salts
Nitrates Soluble
Hydrogencarbonates Soluble
Table 18.3 Solubility of some common salts in water.

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 Solubility
Salt Remarks
in water
Halides Except:
(chloride,
Soluble
• silver halides (AgCl, AgBr and AgI)
bromide • lead(II) halides (PbCl2, PbBr2 and PbI2)
and iodide)
Except:
• lead(II) sulphate (PbSO4)
Sulphates Soluble • barium sulphate (BaSO4)
• calcium sulphate (CaSO4; only
sparingly soluble)
Except:
Carbonates Insoluble
• potassium carbonate (K2CO3)
• sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
• ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3)
Table 18.3 Solubility of some common salts in water.
18.4 Preparation of salts

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There are two important steps for preparing salts.
(1) Making the salt by a suitable reaction
(2) Separating and purifying the salt

18.4 Preparation of salts

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(1) Reaction
Soluble salt

Action of acid on Action of acid on

• a metal, or • an alkali, or
• an insoluble base, or • a soluble carbonate
• an insoluble carbonate

(2) Filtration
Separation
and Crystallization Crystallization
purification
Filtration Filtration

Figure 18.6 A flow chart illustrating Washing

methods of preparing soluble salts.
18.4 Preparation of salts
Drying
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(1) Reaction
Insoluble salt

Mixing two solutions to get a

precipitate, i.e. precipitation

(2) Separation
and purification Filtration

Washing

Drying
Figure 18.6 A flow chart illustrating method of preparing insoluble salts.
Class practice 18.4

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Preparation of soluble salts
1. Action of acid on metal/insoluble base/insoluble
carbonate
Use any of the following reactions to prepare zinc
sulphate (a soluble salt).
(a) Reaction of zinc metal with dilute sulphuric acid
Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)

(b) Reaction of zinc oxide with dilute sulphuric acid

ZnO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

(c) Reaction of zinc carbonate with dilute sulphuric acid

ZnCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Think about
18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage A Reacting zinc oxide with dilute sulphuric acid
1. Place 30 cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid in a beaker.
2. Using a spatula, add zinc oxide, a little at a time, to
dilute sulphuric acid. Stir the reaction mixture with a
glass rod. Heat the reaction mixture gently if the
reaction is slow.
zinc oxide

dilute
H2SO4(aq)

heat if
Figure 18.7 Preparing zinc sulphate crystals necessary
from zinc oxide and dilute sulphuric acid.
(1) & (2)
18.4 Preparation of salts

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3. Continue the addition until some zinc oxide remains
undissolved. At this stage, all the sulphuric acid has
reacted.

zinc oxide
SBA note
An excess of metal/insoluble
base/insoluble carbonate is excess zinc
added to the acid. This is to oxide
ensure that all the acid is used
up. If not, the salt solution heat if
would be contaminated with necessary
the excess acid.
(3)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage B Separating zinc sulphate solution from the
reaction mixture
4. Filter off the excess zinc oxide. The filtrate is zinc
sulphate solution.
glass rod

mixture

folded filter paper

residue (excess zinc oxide)
filter funnel

evaporating dish
filtrate (zinc sulphate
(4) solution)
18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage C Purifying the zinc sulphate
5. Heat the zinc sulphate solution to evaporate about half
of the water.
glass rod

SBA note zinc sulphate

When heating the salt solution, we solution
steam
dip a glass rod into the hot solution
water
and take it out. If the immersed end
becomes ‘cloudy’ within a few
seconds, the remaining solution is heat
concentrated enough for
crystallization to occur.
(5)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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6. Leave the concentrated solution aside to cool slowly
at room temperature. Zinc sulphate crystals will form
after some time.
7. Filter the remaining solution to obtain the crystals.

filter paper to
keep out dust
filter paper
zinc sulphate crystals
zinc sulphate filter funnel
crystals
(6)

(7)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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8. Wash the crystals with a little cold distilled water.
9. Dry the crystals using filter paper or oven.
wash bottle

water
zinc sulphate Dry the crystals using
crystals filter paper or oven
(9)

Example 18.4 Experiment 18.2

(8)
Class practice 18.5 Experiment 18.2
SBA note
The crystals are washed with distilled water to
remove any soluble impurities. But a little and cold
distilled water is used to reduce loss of crystals.
18.4 Preparation of salts

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2. Action of acid on alkali/soluble carbonate
Potassium, sodium and ammonium salts are
prepared by neutralization reactions between
solutions of an acid and an alkali (or a soluble
carbonate).
The technique used is called titration.
stand
acid solution

burette

Figure 18.8 The titration set-up conical flask

for the preparation of potassium, white tile aqueous alkali +
sodium or ammonium salts. indicator
18.4 Preparation of salts

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Use either one of the following reactions to prepare
sodium chloride (a soluble salt).
(a) Reaction of sodium hydroxide solution with
dilute hydrochloric acid
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

(b) Reaction of sodium carbonate with dilute

hydrochloric acid
Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage A Titrating sodium hydroxide solution with
dilute hydrochloric acid
1. Place a known volume, say 25.0 cm3 of sodium
hydroxide solution in a conical flask. Add a few drops
of methyl orange indicator to give a yellow colour.

methyl orange
indicator

Figure 18.9 Preparing sodium chloride

crystals from sodium hydroxide solution NaOH(aq)
and dilute hydrochloric acid. (1)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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2. Fill the burette with dilute hydrochloric acid.

stand
dilute HCl(aq)

burette

conical flask

white tile
NaOH(aq) +
methyl orange indicator
(2)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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3. Run the dilute hydrochloric acid from the burette into
the conical flask, until the solution just turns into a
persistent orange colour. Determine the volume of
dilute hydrochloric acid required to neutralize the
sodium hydroxide solution.

dilute HCl(aq)

reaction mixture + methyl

orange indicator
(3)
18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage B Mixing appropriate volumes of sodium
hydroxide solution and dilute hydrochloric
acid for reaction
4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 with exactly the same volumes of
acid and alkali needed for neutralization (as found
above). However, do not add methyl orange indicator
this time.
dilute hydrochloric acid

burette

conical flask

sodium hydroxide
(4)
18.4 Preparation of salts solution
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Stage C Separating and purifying the sodium chloride
5. Heat the sodium chloride solution to evaporate water
until one-third of the solution is left.
6. Leave the concentrated solution aside to cool slowly at
room temperature. Sodium chloride crystals will form
after some time.
glass rod

filter paper to
sodium chloride keep out dust
solution
steam
water
sodium chloride
crystals
heat
(5) (6)
18.4 Preparation of salts

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7. Filter the crystals from the remaining solution.
8. Wash the crystals with a little cold distilled water.
9. Dry the crystals using filter paper or oven.
wash bottle

distilled water
filter paper
sodium chloride crystals sodium chloride
filter funnel crystals

(7) (8)

(9)
Dry the crystals using
18.4 Preparation of salts
filter paper or oven
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 SBA note
To dry hydrated salts (e.g. hydrated copper(II) sulphate,
CuSO4•5H2O), the temperature of the oven should be
set below 105°C. Otherwise, the water of crystallization
may be removed.

Example 18.5 Experiment 18.3

Class practice 18.6 Experiment 18.3

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Preparation of insoluble salts
Preparing insoluble salts by precipitation.
Mixing two solutions to obtain the precipitate.
One solution contains the cation of the insoluble
salt while the other contains the anion of the
insoluble salt.

Learning tip
It is a useful practice to select a nitrate (to provide
the cation) and a sodium salt or potassium salt (to
provide the anion) in preparing an insoluble salt.
18.4 Preparation of salts

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Preparation of lead(II) sulphate

Mixing the two solutions, lead(II) nitrate solution

and sodium sulphate solution.

Pb(NO3)2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)

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

The ‘spectator’ ions Na+(aq) and NO3–(aq) of the

reaction remain in the solution.

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage A Mixing lead(II) nitrate solution and sodium
sulphate solution
1. Mix lead(II) nitrate solution and sodium sulphate
solution together in a beaker.
mixing

(1) Pb(NO3)2 solution Na2SO4 solution

(a source of Pb2+(aq) ions) (a source of SO42–(aq) ions)
Figure 18.10 Preparing an insoluble salt, lead(II) sulphate, from
lead(II) nitrate solution and sodium sulphate solution.
18.4 Preparation of salts

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2. Stir thoroughly with a glass rod. Precipitate of lead(II)
sulphate will form.

glass rod

filtering the
mixture

washing the
precipitate

white precipitate of PbSO4

(2)

18.4 Preparation of salts

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Stage B Separating and purifying the lead(II) sulphate
3. Filter the reaction mixture to obtain the precipitate.
4. Wash the precipitate with a large amount of distilled
water.
wash bottle

distilled water

PbSO4 precipitate

filter funnel

(3) & (4) filtrate (not required)

SBA note
A large amount of distilled water is used to remove
any soluble impurities.
18.4 Preparation of salts

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5. Dry the precipitate using filter paper or oven.

dry PbSO4

(5)

Example 18.6 Class practice 18.7 Experiment 18.4

Example 18.7 Experiment 18.4

18.4 Preparation of salts

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18.5 Applications of neutralization
Adjusting soil pH
Most plants grow well only in soils of a pH value
closed to 7.

If the soil is too acidic, farmers often add powdered

limestone (a natural form of calcium carbonate),
quicklime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium
hydroxide) to neutralize the acid in soil.

The process is called ‘liming of soil’.

Activity 18.1 Think about

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 Figure 18.11 Using powdered
limestone to neutralize acidic soil.

If the soil is too alkaline, farmers can add

ammonium sulphate.
Learning tip
Ammonium sulphate is a fertilizer as well.
Example 18.8 Class practice 18.8

18.5 Applications of neutralization

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Neutralizing excess acid in stomach
If stomach secretes excess gastric juice (mainly
hydrochloric acid), we may suffer from indigestion.
Indigestion can be treated by taking antacids.

Antacids contain weak bases such as magnesium

hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide.
These bases can neutralize the excess acid in
the stomach.
Mg(OH)2(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
Al(OH)3(s) + 3HCl(aq) → AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l)
Think about

18.5 Applications of neutralization

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Figure 18.12 Antacid can neutralize excess acid in the stomach.

STSE connections 18.1

18.5 Applications of neutralization

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Treating industrial liquid waste
Acidic liquid waste from electroplating and dyeing
can cause water pollution and kill water life.
It is often treated with slaked lime or sodium
carbonate before discharge.

Figure 18.13 Industrial liquid

waste is often acidic.
Alkaline liquid waste is often treated with sulphuric
acid before discharge.
18.5 Applications of neutralization

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Producing fertilizer
Ammonium nitrate is produced by the neutralization
of nitric acid with ammonia.
HNO3(aq) + NH3(aq) → NH4NO3(aq)

(a) (b)
Figure 18.14 (a) Ammonium nitrate crystals (b) Bags of ammonium nitrate
are being loaded on a truck.
Class practice 18.9 STSE connections 18.2

18.5 Applications of neutralization

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Key terms
1. antacid 制酸劑
2. neutral 中性
3. neutralization 中和作用
4. neutralize 中和
5. parent acid 母體酸
6. precipitation 沉澱作用
7. salt 鹽
8. titration 滴定

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Progress check
1. What is neutralization?
2. Is heat released or absorbed during
neutralization?
3. What is a salt?
4. What is the meaning of ‘parent acid’ of a salt?
5. What are the rules for naming a salt?
6. What are the solubilities of some common salts in
water?
7. What general methods are used to prepare
soluble salts such as zinc sulphate, copper(II)
nitrate, magnesium chloride, etc?

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8. What general methods are used to prepare
potassium, sodium and ammonium salts?
9. What general methods are used to prepare
insoluble salts?
10. What are some applications of neutralization?

Progress check

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Summary
18.1 Neutralization
1. Neutralization is the reaction of an acid with a
base producing salt and water only.
18.2 Exothermic nature of neutralization
2. Neutralization is an exothermic reaction.
18.3 Naming of common salts
3. A salt is a compound formed when the ionizable
hydrogen atom(s) of an acid is/are replaced by
metal ion(s) (or ammonium ion(s)).
4. Rules for naming ionic compounds also apply to
salts. Refer to Table 18.2 on p.11.

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18.4 Preparation of salts
5. Some salts are soluble in water while some are
not. Refer to Table 18.3 on p.12 for the
solubilities of common salts in water.
6. General methods of preparing salts are
determined by their solubilities in water.

Summary

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 General methods of
Salt Example
preparation

action of acid on
CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq)
metal/insoluble base/
→ CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
Soluble insoluble carbonate
salt
action of acid on alkali/ HNO3(aq) + NaOH(aq)
soluble carbonate → NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l)

Insoluble mixing two solutions to AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq)

salt get a precipitate → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Summary

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18.5 Applications of neutralization
7. Some applications of neutralization:
• Adjusting soil pH
• Neutralizing excess acid in stomach
• Treating industrial liquid waste
• Producing fertilizer

Summary

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Concept map

Acids + Bases
• adjusting
soil pH
______
applications • neutralizing
NEUTRALIZATION
excess acid
in stomach
• treating
industrial
Salts Water Heat
________ liquid waste
(exothermic • producing
reaction) fertilizer
__________

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 Salts

Soluble salts Insoluble salts

prepared by
prepared by

Acid + metal/ Acid + alkali/

insoluble base/ soluble carbonate
Precipitation
insoluble carbonate
1. filtration
2. washing
1. crystallization 3. drying
2. filtration
3. washing
4. drying Precipitates
Crystals
Concept map

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