Salts and their

preparation
What is a salt?

– A salt is a compound formed when a metal ion or ammonium ion (NH4 +)

replaces all or some of the ionisable (replaceable) H+ of an acid.
– Examples
– NaCl H+ of hydrochloric acid, HCl replaced by Na+
– NaHCO3 One of the ionisable H+ of carbonic acid, H2CO3 replaced by Na+
Can you think of other examples of salts?
Normal Salts and Acid Salts
Normal salts

– This is formed when ALL of the ionisable H+ of an acid have been replaced.
– NaCl where the only ionisable H+ in HCl has been replaced by Na+

– K3PO4(aq) where all 3 of the ionisable H+ of H3PO4(aq) have been replaced by K+

– CH3COO-Na+ where the only ionisable H+ of CH3COOH has been replaced

Acid Salt

– This is formed when only some of the ionisable H+ of an acid have been replaced.
– KH2PO4(aq) where one of 3 H+ in H3PO4(aq) has been replaced by a K+
potassium hydrogenphosphate

– K2HPO4(aq) where two of 3 H+ in H3PO4(aq) has been replaced by 2K+

potassium dihydrogenphosphate
Classification of salts

Hydrated Salts Anhydrous Salts

– These have water incorporated in – These salts do not have water of
their crystal structure crystallization.
– E.g. CuSO4.5H2O – E.g. CuSO4
Hygroscopic salts

– These salts absorb water from the atmosphere without changing state.
– Over time they can become damp
– E.g. Cobalt (II) chloride
 Deliquescent salts:

– Hygroscopic salts that absorb so much water that they dissolve in it to form a concentrated solution.
– E.g. CaCl2
– These substances can be used as drying agents to dry moist gases, petrol and some solids. Chemicals
may be kept dry by using a dessicator, which contains a drying agent (desicant) eg, CaCl2
Efflorescent salt

– These salts lose water of crystallization to the atmosphere.

– Over time they can be seen to lose their crystalline structure and form a powdery solid.
– E.g. Na2CO3.10H2O→ Na2CO3 + 10H2O
 Colour of salts

Most salts of transition metals are coloured.

Fe2+ salts are green Fe3+ salts are yellow Cu2+ salts are blue (however CuCO3 is green)
Ion Colour of salt
Iron (II) Pale green
Iron (III) Pale yellow
Copper (II) Blue
Chromium (III) Green
Chromium (VI) Orange

► Salts of the main group metals are often white solids and colourless solutions.
► These include salts of the ions of Sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, lead,
aluminium, potassium
 Preparation of Salts

Salts can be prepared in several ways. The method chosen depends on:

- The solubility of the salt

- The solubility of the starting materials

- If the salt is hydrated or anhydrous

 Preparation of Salts
The solubility of a salt is very important as it determines the method used in its preparation.

SOLUBLE INSOLUBLE

*All K+, Na+, NH4+

All nitrates

All sulphates Except PbSO4, BaSO4( CaSO4 slightly soluble)

All chlorides Except AgCl ( PbCl2 soluble in hot water)

Na2CO3,K2CO3 and (NH4)2CO3 All carbonates except *

There are 4 main methods used to
prepare salts
Ionic precipitation/Double decomposition Direct combination

Used to prepare insoluble salts. Used to prepare anhydrous or binary salts which react
with water.

Neutralization (acid + insoluble solid) Titration (acid + alkali)

Used to prepare soluble salts (other than Na+, Used to prepare soluble Na+, K+ and NH4 + salts.
K+ and NH4 + salts). An acid is neutralized
The acid and base are added to each other in the exact
using a solid metal, a solid insoluble base, a
amounts such that they exactly cancel each other out, and
solid insoluble carbonate.
neither is in excess. Therefore the final solution should be
the pure salt, which can be collected by evaporation and
crystallization.
IONIC PRECIPITATION /DOUBLE DECOMPOSITION

For the preparation of an insoluble salt: Use 2 solutions of aqueous salts- one containing the desired cation
and one containing the desired anion.

General equation: AX + BY ---> AY + BX

 Ionic precipitation example 1

Prepare CaCO3
Since calcium carbonate is INSOLUBLE, we must prepare it using aqueous solutions. When the
SOLID product forms, it can therefore be separated from any unused AQUEOUS reagents by
filtration.
(1) Identify the reagents needed
(2) Write a balanced equation
 Ionic precipitation example 2

Prepare PbSO4
Since lead sulphate is INSOLUBLE, we must prepare it using aqueous solutions. When the SOLID
product forms, it can therefore be separated from any unused AQUEOUS reagents by filtration.
(1) Identify the reagents needed
(2) Write a balanced equation
Ionic Precipitation Lab:
Preparation of an Insoluble salt, Lead (II) sulphate

https://youtu.be/CVVNfJflSRM
Ionic preparation lab:
Dry sample of Lead (II) Sulphate
Ionic Preparation Lab:
Preparation of an Insoluble salt, Lead (II) sulphate

– Observations
– Describe ● colour of both solutions ●what happens when they are mixed ● the dry salt.
– Discussion
– Write a balanced chemical and ionic equation for the reaction.
– Calculate the mass of salt formed if 0.5 mol/dm3 sodium sulphate solution was used.
– Identify the contaminants that are washed from the residue.
– Give a reason why the mass of salt that you actually collect may be less than this calculated mass.
– Could this method be used to prepare copper (II) sulphate, give a reason for your answer.
Calculate the mass of salt formed if 0.5 mol/dm3 sodium sulphate solution was used.
NEUTRALIZATION (ACID + SOLID)
For the preparation of soluble salts (other than Na+, K+ and NH4 + salts): Add (in excess) an
insoluble solid containing the desired cation to the acid containing the desired anion.

1. An insoluble base; insoluble metal or insoluble

carbonate is added to the acid until there is no further
reaction and unreacted solid remains in the solution.

2. The components are heated to ensure that ALL the

acid has reacted.

3. The mixture is filtered to remove the excess solid. The

FILTRATE is the solution of the desired salt.

4. The salt crystals are obtained by EVAPORATION and

CRYSTALLIZATION
Neutralization (acid + insol solid)
example 1
Prepare MgSO4

Since magnesium sulphate is SOLUBLE, we must be able to separate it from the other aqueous
reagents once it forms. To do this, one of the reagents must be an INSOLUBLE SOLID. By adding
this reagent in excess, we ensure that all of the other reagent has been used up. Therefore when the
excess solid is removed by filtration, the FILTRATE will be a pure solution of the copper sulphate.

Identify possible reagents

Neutralization (acid + insol solid)
example 2
Prepare CuSO4

Since copper sulphate is SOLUBLE, we must be able to separate it from the other aqueous reagents
once it forms. To do this, one of the reagents must be an INSOLUBLE SOLID. By adding this reagent
in excess, we ensure that all of the other reagent has been used up. Therefore when the excess
solid is removed by filtration, the FILTRATE will be a pure solution of the copper sulphate.

(1) Identify the reagents

(2) Identify which reagent must be added in excess
(3) How will you know when the reagent is in excess
(4) Identify the precipitate seen at the end of the reaction
Neutralization Lab:
Preparation of a soluble salt, Copper (II) Sulphate by
reaction of an insoluble base with acid

https://youtu.be/FRaT0qOKZpU
Neutralization Lab:
Dry sample of Copper (II) Sulphate
 Neutralization Lab:
Preparation of a soluble salt, Copper (II) Sulphate by
reaction of an insoluble base with acid
Observations
Describe ●the reactants ●the reaction ●salt obtained.

Discussion
•Define the term salt. • What determines the method used to prepare a salt? • Identify all of the methods
that can be used to prepare a soluble salt.
• Why was copper (II) oxide added in excess? • Why was the mixture filtered? • Why was the filtrate crystallised
rather than evaporated? • How can a person tell that the reaction has reached completion? • Is this method used to
prepare copper sulphate suitable for the preparation of lead chloride? Give a reason for your answer.
• Give a balanced chemical equation for the reaction being investigated. • If 10cm 3 of 0.2mol/dm-3 H2SO4 was used
in the above experiment, calculate the maximum mass of salt that would be obtained. • A student who carried out
the experiment found that the mass of crystals of copper sulphate obtained was much less than the maximum mass
calculated. Give a reason for this observation.
 Key Points

– The desired salt must be able to be easily separated from any other by product or excess
reactant.
– E.g. In precipitation reaction the ppt is the only insoluble substance, so it can be separated from the
excess reactant and 2nd product (which are both soluble) via filtration.
– Solid reactant (metal, base or carbonate) added to acid must be insoluble so that it does not
dissolve and contaminate the salt solution. Separating a salt solution mixture would be very
difficult.
– They are added in excess to make sure all the acid reacts so it does not contaminate the solution of
the desired salt.
Direct Combination
For the preparation of binary salts (made of 2 elements only) or anhydrous salts (containing no water):
Add the 2 elements together usually in the presence of heat.

– This method can be used to prepare a binary salt (contains only 2 elements) by combining the
salt’s constituent elements, usually in the presence of heat. The salts produced this way will be
anhydrous.
– Fe + S → FeS 2Fe + 3Cl2→ 2FeCl3 2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2AlCl3(s)
Direct Combination Lab:
Preparation of Iron (II) sulphide via direct combination

https://youtu.be/0mdNyHJSL9Q
 Direct Combination Lab:
Preparation of Iron (II) sulphide via direct combination

• Observations
– Describe
– Appearance of iron, Sulphur and the mixture
– Appearance of the salt

• Discussion
– Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction
– Calculate the mass of salt formed if 0.8 g of Fe was used with excess Sulphur.
– Why can’t this method be used to prepare ammonium chloride?
Preparation of a Sodium, Potassium or
ammonium salt using Titration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfydLhsYPPw
Points to remember

– Sodium/Potassium/ammonium carbonate or base are soluble therefore they cannot be used

to prepare the salt.
– Because the reactants and the salt are all soluble it would be impossible to tell the point at
which you have mixed the acid and alkali in exact amounts so that there is only salt and
water in the mixture.
– An indicator is used to determine this volume required and then the experiment repeated
without indicator present. The solution from burette must be added slowly and carefully
since there would be no indicator to show when it is in excess/end point.
Preparation of Salts
SUMMARY