Preparation of Salts

A salt is formed when the replaceable

hydrogen in an acid is substituted by
metal / ammonium ions.

Cl
HHC NaCl
salt
H2SO4 CuSO4
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 Isotonic drinks Fertilizers

Photographic Film

Baking
powder
Plaster Cast

Epsom Salts
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 examples
1 Na + All the salts
K+ of these ions KNO3

are so luble Na2SO4

NH 4 + in water

2 All nitrate s are Ca(NO3)2

solu ble in water

 

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 3 All chl ori des are sol ubl e Pb C l 2 Lead
except
AgC l Salts

4 A ll sul phates are sol ubl e CaSO 4 Can

except
BaSO 4 Be

Pb SO 4 Lethal

  Na 2 CO 3
 5   Al l carbonates are insolubl e
except K 2 CO 3
 
(NH 4 ) 2 CO 3
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 Guidelines in the choice of method
when preparing a SALT

There are 3 methods to prepare salts, the choice depends on

a) the solubility of the salt to be prepared
b) the solubility of the reagents to be used

In making a salt, it is important that the reaction and

experimental procedure chosen will enable us to isolate
cl ean, dr y crystal s with a reasonabl e yiel d.
Therefore, it is also crucial to consider the following.

(i) The ease of removing all excess reactants and

impurities.
(ii) The retention of water of crystallisation.
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 3
Ioni c
NO Preci
All pi tati
insoluble salts on
Is the salt
soluble? Are t he
reag ent s
YE S very sol ubl e
in water ?

NO YE
S
1
React ion w it h me tal / 2
insoluble base Ti tr ati on m ethod
a) Acid with metal Acid with soluble base
except Na+, K+, NH4+ , Cu2+, Ag+ salts ONLY Na+, K+, NH4+ salts
b) Acid with insoluble base / carbonate
except Na+, K+, NH4+ salts
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Method 1 (for SOLUBLE SALTS)

WHY
insoluble ?
Examples: CuSO4

Prepare a salt from an (a) ACID and (b) (i) an INSOLUBLE Base;
(ii) an INSOLUBLE Carbonate or
(iii) a Metal powder (INSOLUBLE)

Example 1: To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

a Sulphuric acid
Which acid to use? _______________________

b What are the suitable reactions that will produce the required salt with the chosen acid?

H2SO4 (aq) + CuO (s) → CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

H2SO4 (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2

c Experimental procedure, crystals/salt obtained must be PURE and DRY.

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Method 1 (for SOLUBLE SALTS)
Example 1: To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

from suphuric acid and copper(II) oxide

Reaction chosen

H2SO4 (aq) + CuO (s) → CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

CuO

(1) Measure 50
(3) Add CuO one spatula (4) Filter
cm3 of dil. H2SO4.
at a time, stirring until Remove (5) Evaporate filtrate to a
no more CuO dissolves. excess CuO.
(2)WARM
Speed up Solid powder a hot concentrated /
the reaction seen at bottom saturated solution
of beaker (6) cool for the
Why ? crystals to form. Crystals
Ensure all the acid has Filter
reacted. paper

Hence, no acid (7) Wash with a little cold distilled water and filter to
contamination in the obtain crystals.
salt (8) press crystals lightly between pieces of
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filter paper and air-dry.
Method 1 (for SOLUBLE SALTS)
Example 1: To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

from 'suphuric acid and copper(II) carbonate'

Reaction chosen

CuCO3

(1) Measure 50 (2) Add excess

cm3 of dil. H2SO4. CuCO3,ie.until no (3) Filter
no more solid To remove (4) Evaporate until
dissolves excess crystals start to appear
CuCO3. to obtain a hot
To ensure all the saturated solution
(5) cool for the
acid has reacted
crystals to form. Crystals
and prevent acid
Filter
contamination of (1) filter to obtain crystals. paper
the salt (2) Wash with a little cold distilled water
(8) press crystals lightly between pieces of
filter paper and air-dry.

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Method 2 (for Na+, K+, NH4+)
TITRATION- Make very soluble salts
Example : To prepare potassium chloride
Reaction chosen

HCl (aq) + KOH (aq) → KCl (aq) + H2O (l)

(a) Determine the volumes of solutions needed.
Carry out titration in two parts :
Part I
Titrate 20cm3 of potassium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid using methyl
orange (or any suitable indicator). Titration is repeated until constant
readings are obtained.

Add about 2 drops of  
Pipette 20cm3 of  methyl orange
KOH into a 
conical flask Titrate with dil HCl 
until the colour of 
the indicator 
changes from yellow 
to light-orange

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Method 2 (for Na+, K+, NH4+)
TITRATION – Make very soluble salts
Example : To prepare potassium chloride
Reaction chosen

HCl (aq) + KOH (aq) → KCl (aq) + H2O (l)

Part II
Without adding the indicator, add the exact amounts of acid to the alkali
according to the volumes determined in (part I) using the titration set-up.

Pipette 20cm3 of 
KOH into a 
conical flask Add the required 
volume of dil. HCl 
from a burette.

Why NO
indicator?

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 TITRATION
Example : To prepare potassium chloride

HCl (aq) + KOH (aq) → KCl (aq) + H2O (l)

(b) carry out CRYSTALLISATION

evaporation to dryness

OR
(i) Transfer solution into evaporating dish
(ii) Evaporate off half of solvent
(iii) cool to get crystals
(iv) filter crystals and dry with pieces of filter paper

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Method 3 (for INSOLUBLE SALTS)
PRECIPITATION
Examples of precipitation reaction

(a) AgNO3 (aq) + NaCl (aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO3 (aq)

A clear and colourless solution
on top. Name the substances in
the aqueous mixture.
A white
On
precipitate
standing ……………………...
AgNO3 NaCl in an
in excess aqueous White precipitate, AgCl (s),
solution
settles to the bottom.

(b)Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + K2SO4 (aq) BaSO4

→ ___________ (s) + 2 KNO3
_____________ (aq)
PbI2 2KNO3
(c)Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + KI (aq) → ___________ (s) + _____________ (aq)

In preparing salts by the precipitation method, note that

(i) The two reactants are in the aqueous state. Hence, they must be compounds that are
soluble in water.

(ii) The precipitate is the only solid (usually the product of interest) in the reaction as the other
product is also aqueous.

(iii) The reactants exchange ions to form the products.

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Method 3 (for INSOLUBLE SALTS)
IONIC PRECIPITATION
Example : To prepare Barium sulphate

(a) Barium sulphate is made up of the cation Ba2+ and the anion SO42-
Therefore, the two reactants selected must be aqueous solution
containing Ba2+ and aqueous solution containing SO42-

BaSO4
Ba2+ from Ba(NO3)2 SO42- from    (a)  Na2SO4(aq) ,
    BaC l 2         (b)  K2SO4  (aq)  or
        (c)  H2SO4 ( aq).

Reaction chosen

Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4 (S) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

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Method 3 (for INSOLUBLE SALTS)
PRECIPITATION

BaSO4

Chemical equation :
Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4 (S) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)
IONIC equation :
Ba2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) → BaSO4 (s)

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Method 3 (for INSOLUBLE SALTS)
PRECIPITATION
Chemical equation :
Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4 (S) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

(1) Mix about equal volumes of barium nitrate and sodium sulphate solutions.
(2) Filter the mixture to obtain the salt (precipitate).
( Wash the insoluble salt with distilled water.
(4) Dry the salt in air by using filter paper.

Ppt may sink to

A white
precipitate in or the bottom

Ba(NO3)2 Na2SO4 an aqueous

solution

residue
Wash with
distilled
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water
Method 3 (for INSOLUBLE SALTS)
PRECIPITATION

When preparing silver chloride:

AgNO3 (aq) + KCl (aq) _________________________________
1.
What are substances present in the aqueous
mixture?

AgCl (s)
AgNO3 KCl
In excess
2.

What are substances present in the aqueous

mixture?

AgCl (s)
AgNO3 KCl
In excess
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