SALTS
SALTS: is substance made when hydrogen ion in an acid are replaced by a metal ion or the
ammonium ion (NH4+)
OR is a Substance formed of positive metallic ion or ammonium ion and negative ion derived
from acid.
NAMING OF SALTS
They named according the anions (negative ions) derived from acid
ACID NAME OF SALTS EXAMPLE
Sulphuric acid Sulphate Na2SO4
Hydrochloric acid chloride CaCI2
Nitric acid nitrate NH4NO3
ethanoic acid ethanoates CH3COONa
carbonic acid carbonate MgCO3
TYPE OF SALTS
NORMAL SALTS: All hydrogen ion in the acid are replaced by metal ion or ammonium ion
ACIDIC SALTS: Not all the hydrogen ions are replaced by metal ion or ammonium ion
ACID ACIDIC SALTS NORMAL SALTS
sulphuric acid sodium hydrogen sulphate sodium sulphate
carbonic acid sodium hydrogen carbonate sodium carbonate
Some salts are soluble in water while others are insoluble in water.
1) All salts of group 1 metals are soluble
2) All nitrates are soluble
3) All ammonium salts are soluble
4) All chlorides are soluble expect for AgCl, HgCl.
5) All sulphate are soluble expect for BaSO4, PbSO4
6) All Carbonate are insoluble expect for group 1 metal and ammonium carbonate
PREPARATION OF SALTS
Preparation of soluble salts
1. Acid + metal
2. Base + Acid
Insoluble base +acid
Alkali + acid
3. Carbonate + acid
1. ACID + METAL
The method is used to prepare salts of less reactive metal. Group 1 metals are not used in this
method because they react explosively with acid
Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Tin, Aluminium
Acid + metal salt + hydrogen gas
Example: Preparation of Zinc Sulphate using zinc metal and an acid
Equation: Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)
Procedure
(i) Add Zinc granules to dilute sulphuric acid bit by bit until excess (when excess metal
has been added, effervescence stops while there is still some unreacted metal)
(ii) filter to remove excess zinc granules
(iii) Boil the filtrate to evaporate excess water
(iv) Allow the mixture to cool for crystallization to take place
(v) Dry the salt by rubbing between filter papers
2. ACIDS + BASE
Acids + insoluble base
The method is used to prepare salts of unreactive metal e.g. copper, Lead. These metals hardly
react with acids
Example: Preparation of copper (II) sulphate using copper (II)Oxide (as a base) and
sulphuric acid
Acids + Insoluble base Salt + Water
Equation: H2SO4 (aq) + CuO(s) CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)
Procedure
(i) warm the acid in a beaker and add insoluble base bit by bit while string until
excess
(ii) filter off excess insoluble base
(iii) Boil the filtrate to evaporate excess water
(iv) Cool the mixture to allow for crystallization
3. ACIDS + ALKALI
The method is used to prepare salts of reactive metals
Alkaline + acid salt + water
Procedure
(i) Acid and alkali are titrated together using an indicator. This is meant to find
the volume of the acid needed to react with the alkali.
(ii) the correct volumes of the acid, indicator will be added together without using
an indicator
(iii) Evaporation and crystallization
4. ACIDS + CARBONATE
Example; Preparation of Copper (II) Sulphate using a copper (II) carbonate and sulphuric
acid
Equation: H2SO4 (aq) + CuCO3 (s) CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)
1. Warm the acid for a few minutes and mix it with excess carbonate
Stirring rod
Explain why the acid should be warmed ?.......................................................................................
Why should the carbonate be in excess …………………………………………………………..
Observations; 1. effervescences due to the carbon dioxide produced
2. Blue solution of copper II sulphate appears/ is formed
3. When excess carbonate has been added, effervescence stop while there is
carbonate in the beaker
2. Filter the mixture to remove unreacted/ excess carbonate.
Name the residue and the filtrate.
State the color of the filtrate
3.Heat the filtrate to evaporate excess water until when crystals just begin to form.
Why is it important to avoid heating to dryness ?
4.Allow the mixture to cool in order for crystallization to take place.
5. Dry the crystals by rubbing them between filter papers.
Preparation of insoluble salts
Insoluble salts are prepared by a method called precipitation. In this method two soluble salts,
one containing the wanted positive ion and the other containing the wanted anion, are reacted
together to form a precipitate of the insoluble salt.
The precipitate is then filtered off, washed with distilled water and dried.
Examples
Preparation of the insoluble salt silver chloride
Reagents;
i. Silver nitrate ( to provide the silver ion)
ii. Sodium chloride ( to provide the chloride ion)
AgNO3 (aq) + NaCl (aq) AgCl (s) + NaNO3 (aq)
SALT ANALYSIS
This is a method used to identify the negative ion and positive ion in a salt in order to determine
the name of the salt. It is a method used to identify unknown substances by identifying the ions
they are made of.
Identifying Positive metal ions
These are identified using both sodium hydroxide solution and aqueous ammonia solution.
Procedure.
A. Testing with aqueous sodium hydroxide
i. Transfer about 1cm3 of the unknown salt into a test tube.
ii. Add 2-3 drops of aqueous sodium hydroxide and observe the colour of the precipitate formed
iii. add excess aqueous sodium hydroxide and observe if the precipitate dissolves or not.
B. A. Testing with aqueous ammonia
i. Transfer about 1cm3 of the unknown salt into a test tube.
ii. Add 2-3 drops of aqueous ammonia and observe the colour of the precipitate formed
iii. add excess aqueous ammonia and observe if the precipitate dissolves or not.
Results
Metal ion Test with sodium hydroxide solution Test with aqueous ammonia ( colour of
( colour of precipitate and solubility precipitate and solubility of precipitate
of precipitate in excess solution ) in excess solution )
Calcium,
Ca2+
Aluminium
Al3+
Zinc
Zn2+
Copper II ion
Cu2+
Iron II ion,
Fe2+
Iron III ion
Fe3+
In these reactions, the metal ion react with the hydroxide solution to form a metal hydroxide
Eg.
Cu2+ (aq) + NaOH (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) + Na+ (aq)
Test for the ammonium ion.
Ammonium salts react with alkalis to produce the gas ammonia. Therefore, an unknown salt
suspected to be containing an ammonium ion is reacted with sodium hydroxide solution to check
if ammonia gas will be produced.
Procedure;
i. Transfer about 1cm3 of sample solution into a test tube
ii. Add sodium hydroxide solution
iii. Hold a damp red litmus paper in contact with the gas produced
Positive result: The damp red litmus paper turns blue
Test for anions
Anion Test Positive result
Chloride
Cl-
Sulphate
SO42-
Nitrate
NO3-
Carbonate
CO32-
Iodide
I-
