Chemistry Handout 11 REF #: 011

Salts
A salt is a compound formed when the hydrogen ions of an acid is partially (some is replaced) or totally (all is replaced)
replaced by a metal or ammonium ion.

The metal or ammonium ions may be supplied by the metal itself, a carbonate, a hydrogen carbonate or a base.

Salts are ionic and contains atleast one metallic or ammonium cation and atleast one anion (acid radical) from the acid.

Types of Salts
There are two types of salts:

1. Acid Salts- these salts are formed when some of the hydrogen ions of an acid is replaced by a metal or
ammonium ion. Acids salts therefore, contain some hydrogen ions from the original acid. Only dibasic and
tribasic acids can form acid salts. Examples of acid salts are sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3), sodium
hydrosulphide (NaHS), sodium bisulphate (NaHSO 4), monosodium phosphate (NaH2PO4) and disodium
phosphate (Na2HPO4)

2. Normal Salts- these salts are formed when all of the hydrogen ions of the acid are replaced by a metal or
ammonium ion. Monobasic acids form normal salts only.

- Monobasic acids can form normal salts only whiles dibasic and tribasic acids can form both normal and
acid salts.
- The type of salt formed by dibasic and tribasic acids depends on the quantity of acid used.

Salt or Base Solubility in water

Chlorides, Bromides All halides are soluble, except for the halides of silver and lead. Lead chlorides
and Iodides and lead bromides, however, are soluble in hot water
Nitrates All nitrates are soluble
Salts Sulphates All sulphates are soluble, except barium sulphate and lead sulphate; calcium
sulphate and silver sulphate are slightly soluble
Carbonates All carbonates are insoluble except sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate
and ammonium carbonate
Sodium, potassium All common salts containing sodium, potassium and ammonium are soluble
and Ammonium
Phosphates All phosphates are insoluble except sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate
and ammonium phosphate
Bases Oxides All oxides are insoluble except sodium oxide, potassium oxide, strontium oxide
and barium oxide; calcium oxide is slightly soluble
Hydroxides All hydroxides are insoluble except sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and
ammonium hydroxide; calcium hydroxide is slightly soluble
Methods of Preparing Salts
When preparing salts, the following must be considered:

- The solubility of the salt - The solubility of the staring - The hydration of the salt
materials

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 Chemistry Handout 11 REF #: 011

Note:

 Insoluble salts are prepared by Ionic Precipitation (double decomposition)

 Soluble Salts are prepared by:

- Filtration and Crystallization - Titration

 Anhydrous Binary salts are prepared by Direct Combination/ Synthesis

Quantitative Analysis (Volumetric Analysis)

A titration is a technique used to determine the exact volume of one solution required to react completely with a fixed
volume of another solution. Typically, the titrant (solution of known concentration called the standard solution) is added
from a burette to a known quantity of the analyte (the unknown solution) until the reaction is complete (the end point).

Analyte + Titrant  Product

A titration may involve:

1. The reaction between an acid and an alkali or carbonate- the end point may be determined by using an indicator or
temperature change.

2. The reaction between an oxidizing and a reducing agent- the end point is determined by a sudden colour change.

Indicators
An acid-base indicator is a substance which is used to determine if a solution is acidic or alkaline by
showing a colour change.

Indicator Approximate pH Colour Change in Colour Change in

Range for Colour Acidic Solution Alkaline Solution
Change
Litmus 5.5-8.2 Red Blue
Phenolphthalein 8.2-10 colourless Pink
Methyl Orange 3.2-4.4 Pink/Red Yellow
Bromothymol Blue 6.0-7.6 Yellow Blue

The Results obtained from titrations may be used in four ways:

- To make potassium, sodium or ammonium salts

- To calculate the mole ratio in which the reactants combine and hence write equations for titration reactions.
- To calculate the concentration (mass concentration and mole concentration) of one of the reactions used in the
titration.
- To determine the basicity of an acid used in a titration.

A. BAKSH
Chemistry Handout 11 REF #: 011

A. BAKSH