What is a salt

since all Salts are ionic compounds, you need knowledge of common ions to write chemical equations: Common Substances

Definition

Salt is an ionic compound which is made by the reactions of acids with metals, carbonates, or bases, or alkalis. In these reactions, when 1 or more hydrogen ions of an acid is replaced by a metallic ion or an ammonium ion, salt is formed. #ChemistryDefinitions

Solubility of Salts (Must Memorize)

Soluble SaltsInsoluble Salts (And Exceptions)
(all salts of group 1 metals)
- all sodium salts
- all potassium salts
- all ammonium Salts
- all Nitrates
-
All Chlorides/iodides and ammonium chloridesilver chloride/iodide
lead(II)chloride/iodide
All Sulfates and Ammonium SulfateLead(II)sulfate
barium sulfate
Calcium sulfate
(sparingly soluble)
(all group 1 metal carbonates)
sodium carbonate
potassium carbonate
ammonium carbonate
All carbonates
group 1 hydroxides
some group 2 hydroxides like barium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide
All hydroxides
physical state at R.T.P:”
  • water soluble salt:
    • solid if not dissolved in water
    • aqueous if dissolved in water
  • salt that is insoluble
    • solid state.

Salts are ionic compounds so they have similar properties to that of ionic compounds

  • there are good conductors of electricity in molten and aqueous state. *

(all the information can be found at: Properties of Ionic Compounds

Important

if a carbonate can dissolve in water, its bicarbonate can also dissolve in water


Deciding How a salt can be prepared

Factors to Consider:

  • solubility of salt in water
  • solubility of starting materials in water*

**If the salt is soluble > it is usually prepared from reaction of acids. if it is insoluble > it is usually prepared by Precipitation Method for Preparing Salts

titration: group 1 ppt: insoluble salts acid + excess: grp 2/grp 13 / transition metal salts

Link to Flowchart: Method for Preparing Salt


Preparing salt by reaction of an acid with excess insoluble substance

Preparing Salt by reaction of acid with an excess insoluble substance


Preparing Salt by Titration

Titration method for preparing salts


Preparing Salt by Precipitation

Precipitation Method for Preparing Salts