Making salts

What are salts?

Salts are the compounds formed when acids are neutralised
Acids can be neutralised by reaction with
Bases (or alkalis)
Carbonates
Acids will even react with METALS to make salts
What are acids?
Acids are chemicals whose pHs are less than 7

i.e. 0 - 6.9

Acids are chemicals that produce H + ions when added to water

Common strong acids include
HYDROCHLORIC ACID

HCl

SULPHURIC ACID

H 2SO 4

NITRIC ACID

HNO 3

What are bases?

Bases are chemicals that NEUTRALISE acids to make a SALT and WATER
Soluble bases are known as ALKALIS
They have pH values GREATER than 7

i.e. 7.1 - 14

They are usually

METAL OXIDES
e.g. magnesium oxide

MgO

e.g. copper(II) oxide

CuO

METAL HYDROXIDES

Ammonia

NH

e.g. sodium hydroxide

NaOH

e.g. calcium hydroxide

Ca(OH)

is an alkaline gas

Making salts
Salts that we make must be PURE
i.e. we are trying to make CRYSTALS (solids)
sodium
chloride
NaCl

copper
sulphate
CuSO 4

These two examples are produced when a solution EVAPORATES

So both of these salts are SOLUBLE in water
Most salts are SOLUBLE in water
Most bases (and carbonates) are INSOLUBLE in water
This is very useful when trying to make salts by reacting acids

Making soluble salts

Before making salts it is important to know if the salt is soluble or not
A set of SOLUBILITY RULES can be applied
Creating SOLUBILITY RULES
The simplest way is to imagine every chemical as being soluble ........
and then remember the exceptions
Compounds are looked at by referring to either the CATION or ANION
part of the name
e.g. sodium chloride can be
either a SODIUM compound
or a CHLORIDE compound
e.g. copper(II) sulphate can be
either a COPPER(II) compound
or a SULPHATE compound

SOLUBILITY RULES
CATION RULES
all SODIUM, POTASSIUM and AMMONIUM compounds are SOLUBLE
sodium bromide

potassium sulphate

ammonium carbonate

NaBr

is SOLUBLE

K 2 SO 4

(NH 4 ) 2CO

is SOLUBLE

There are no other rules for CATIONS

is SOLUBLE

ANION RULES
There are many more anion rules

ALL

NITRATES

NO3

are soluble

CHLORIDES
BROMIDES
IODIDES

Cl
Br
I

are soluble
are soluble
are soluble

HALIDES

except silver chloride, silver bromide & silver iodide

& lead chloride, lead bromide & lead iodide

ALL

2are soluble
SULPHATES SO 4
except barium sulphate & lead sulphate
2-

CARBONATES CO 3
are INsoluble
except sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate & ammonium carbonate
HYDROXIDES - OH

2-

(and OXIDES - O

are INsoluble

except sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide & ammonium hydroxide

SUMMARY TABLE
CATION

SOLUBILITY

SODIUM

SOLUBLE

POTASSIUM

SOLUBLE

AMMONIUM

SOLUBLE

ANION

SOLUBILITY

EXCEPTION

NITRATE

SOLUBLE

NONE

HALIDE*

SOLUBLE

SILVER HALIDE

SULPHATE

SOLUBLE

BARIUM SULPHATE

CARBONATE

INSOLUBLE

SODIUM, POTASSIUM & AMMONIUM

CARBONATES (soluble)

HYDR(OXIDE)

INSOLUBLE

SODIUM, POTASSIUM & AMMONIUM

HYDROXIDES (soluble)

HALIDE* ions are chlorides, bromides & iodides (+ fluorides)

Which salts are soluble?

Use the table to help you decide if the named salt is soluble or insoluble
zinc nitrate

- soluble

Why?

It is a NITRATE

sodium carbonate

- soluble

Why?

It is a SODIUM compound

calcium carbonate

- insoluble Why?

It is a CARBONATE

copper sulphate

- soluble

It is a SULPHATE

barium sulphate

- insoluble Why?

It is BARIUM SULPHATE

iron bromide

- soluble

It is a BROMIDE

silver iodide

- insoluble Why?

It is SILVER IODIDE

potassium
hexacyanoferrate

- soluble

Why?

It is a POTASSIUM
compound

ammonium carbonate

- soluble

Why?

It is an AMMONIUM
compound

Why?
Why?

Making soluble salts

Soluble salts are made by reacting the appropriate acid with
a BASE, a CARBONATE or occasionally the METAL
To make a NITRATE

use NITRIC ACID

To make a SULPHATE use SULPHURIC ACID

To make a CHLORIDE

use HYDROCHLORIC ACID

Besides making a SALTS other products are also made depending on

what the acid reacts with
Acids react with bases to make a SALTS and WATER
ACID + BASE

SALT + WATER

Acids react with carbonates to make a SALTS , WATER & CO2

ACID + BASE

SALT + WATER + CO 2

Acids react with metals to make a SALTS & HYDROGEN

ACID + METAL

SALT + HYDROGEN

Making soluble salts

In almost all of these cases the metal, base or carbonate will be INSOLUBLE
This makes it easier to make a pure sample of the salt
Solids (INSOLUBLE) material can easily be removed by FILTRATION
using a funnel and filter paper
Crystals can be obtained by EVAPORATING
off some (or all) of a solvent

Making copper sulphate crystals

What acid needs to be used? SULPHURIC ACID
What can it react with?

either a BASE COPPER OXIDE

COPPER OXIDE + SULPHURIC ACID

CuO + H 2SO 4

COPPER SULPHATE + WATER

CuSO

+ H 2O

or COPPER CARBONATE

COPPER CARBONATE + SULPHURIC ACID

CuCO 3 + H 2SO 4

COPPER SULPHATE + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE

CuSO 4 + H O + CO 2
2

Copper metal will NOT react with acids

Making copper sulphate crystals

Pour 50 cm3 of sulphuric acid into a 100ml beaker
Warm gently on a tripod and gauze until it begins to
STEAM NOT BOIL
Carefully remove the beaker from the gauze and put it onto a MAT
Add COPPER OXIDE one spatula at a time
(If using COPPER CARBONATE do NOT warm the acid)
Stir with a glass rod
If the solid dissolves add more, stirring, until no more dissolves
What does this mean?

ALL the acid has REACTED

The solid should have settled to the BOTTOM.

What is the solid?

The solid is UNREACTED copper oxide or carbonate

This is often described as being IN EXCESS

Making copper sulphate crystals

Filter the mixture carefully into an evaporating dish
- making sure NO black copper oxide passes through

Now evaporate half the volume

.... and leave to stand
This produces beautiful
BLUE crystals
of COPPER SULPHATE

Making sodium chloride crystals

Sodium chloride is a SOLUBLE salt
What acid needs to be used? HYDROCHLORIC ACID
What can it react with? either a BASE SODIUM HYDROXIDE - NaOH

This is SOLUBLE
SODIUM HYDROXIDE + HYDROCHLORIC ACID

NaOH + HCl

NaCl

SODIUM CHLORIDE + WATER

+ H 2O

or SODIUM CARBONATE
Na2 CO 3
This is also SOLUBLE
SODIUM CARBONATE + HYDROCHLORIC ACID

SODIUM CHLORIDE + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE

Na 2CO3 + 2HCl

2NaCl

+ H O + CO 2
2

Making sodium chloride crystals

We cannot use the previous technique of adding an insoluble base to the acid
It is important the exact volume of acid needed to neutralise the alkali is known
25ml of the acid is measure out using a measuring cylinder
and poured into a conical flask
An indicator e.g. Phenolphthalein can be added
Sodium hydroxide is poured into a BURETTE
The starting volume is recorded
Sodium hydroxide is carefully added by
opening the tap and allowing it into the flask
The indicator will turn PINK
Record this new volume
Calculate the volume of sodium hydroxide added
Repeat the experiment using this volume and the same volume of acid
without the indicator
Evaporate to obtain crystals of sodium chloride

Making insoluble compounds

Insoluble compounds CANNOT be made by reaction of an acid with
an INSOLUBLE BASE or CARBONATE
When the acid meets the insoluble compound an impervious coat forms
preventing further reaction
To make an insoluble compound TWO solutions must be mixed
The insoluble compound immediately forms.
This is known as a PRECIPITATE

Choosing the solutions

Look at the NAME of the insoluble compound

Look at the CATION (first part of the name)
Choose a solution containing this ion
Look at the ANION (second part of the name)
Choose another solution containing this ion

Making insoluble compounds

EXAMPLE LEAD SULPHATE
Look at the CATION
(LEAD)
Choose a solution containing this ion (LEAD nitrate)
Nitrates are ALWAYS soluble
Look at the ANION
(SULPHATE)
Choose a solution containing this ion (sodium SULPHATE)
Sodium compounds are ALWAYS soluble
Mix the solutions and observe the changes
A WHITE precipitate should be seen
write a WORD EQUATION
LEAD nitrate

+ sodium SULPHATE
LEAD SULPHATE + sodium nitrate

Making insoluble compounds

EXAMPLE LEAD IODIDE
Look at the CATION
(LEAD)
Choose a solution containing this ion (LEAD nitrate)
Nitrates are ALWAYS soluble
Look at the ANION
(IODIDE)
Choose a solution containing this ion (potassium IODIDE)
Potassium compounds are ALWAYS soluble
Mix the solutions and observe the changes
A YELLOW precipitate should be seen
write a WORD EQUATION
LEAD nitrate

+ potassium IODIDE
LEAD IODIDE
+ potassium nitrate

Making insoluble compounds

EXAMPLE ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE
Look at the CATION
(ALUMINIUM)
Choose a solution containing this ion (ALUMINIUM sulphate)
Sulphates are usually soluble
Look at the ANION
(HYDROXIDE)
Choose a solution containing this ion (sodium HYDROXIDE)
sodium compounds are ALWAYS soluble
Mix the solutions and observe the changes
A WHITE precipitate should be seen
write a WORD EQUATION
Aluminium sulphate + sodium HYDROXIDE
ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE + sodium sulphate

Purifying insoluble compounds

Insoluble compounds are prepared as precipitates
To obtain a pure dry sample you need to filter the mixture, keeping the residue
the residue will be wet and have soluble impurities
keep the residue on the filter paper and rinse with distilled water
scrape the residue onto a watch glass and place into an oven
to dry (50 C)
or squeeze between wads of filter paper