Salts

A salt is formed when all or part of the hydrogen ion of an acid is replaced with a metal ion
or an ammonium ion.

Properties of Salt

 Salt has negatively charged ions (-) and positively charged ions (+).

 Due to their oppositely charged ions, the ions are attracted towards each other with an
electrostatic force of attraction which is called an ionic bond.
 An equal number of opposite charges makes the ionic compounds neutral with no
charge.
 Salt water is a good conductor of electricity.
 Salts are ionic in nature due to the presence of ions.
 They are brittle, hard and crystalline solids.
 Common salt (sodium chloride) is white, odorless and it has a salty taste.
 All potassium (K), ammonium (NH4+) and sodium (Na) salts are soluble in water.
 Nitrites, nitrates, and bicarbonates can be dissolved in water.

Types of Salts
a) Normal salt
Normal salts are electrically neutral. They are formed when acids and bases
neutralize, and these salts don’t have replaceable hydrogen or hydroxyl in their
formula. Metallic ions replace the hydrogen ions completely.  For e.g. NaCl, KNO3,
CuSO4 etc.
b) Basic salt
Salt formed due to partial replacement of hydroxy radicals of a diacidic base or a
triacidic base with an acid radical. This kind of acid consists of hydroxyl, metallic
cation and anion of an acid.  For e.g. basic Zinc chloride (ZnOHCl), basic magnesium
chloride (MgOHCl), etc.
c) Acidic salt
If a polybasic acid is neutralized partly by a base, the salt formed is acidic. In other
words, such salt is produced by the replacement of only a part of the acidic hydrogen
of the polybasic acid by a metal.  For e.g. NaHSO4,  NaHS, NaHCO3 , KH2PO4  etc.
d) Double salt
Double salts have more than one cation or anion. They’re a crystalline salt having the
composition of a mixture of two simple salts but with a different crystal structure
from either. For e.g. bromlite (CaBa(CO3)2, potassium sodium tartrate
(KNaC4H4O6.4H2O) also known as Rochelle salt), aluminium sulfacetate
(Al2SO4(CH3CO2)4 etc.
e) Mixed salt
 A mixed salt is a salt made from more than one base or acid.  For e.g. sodium
potassium sulphate, bleaching powder etc.
f) Complex salt
Salt formed due to combining a saturated solution of simple salts followed by
crystallization of the solution similar to double salts. For e.g. Sodium silver cyanide,
potassium mercuric iodide etc.

Type of Salt Salt

Normal salt NaCl or CuSO4
Basic salt Zn(OH)Cl
Acid salt Mg(HCO3)2
Complex salt K4Fe(CN)6
Double salt KAl(SO4)2.12H2O

1. Preparation of Salts by The Action of An Acid Upon a Metal

This method is used to prepare soluble salts. E.g. the addition of granulated zinc to a dilute
solution of tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid - effervescence of hydrogen occurs.
Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)
The solution is filtered, leaving insoluble impurities, such as excess zinc and particles of
carbon on the filter paper. The ZnSO4 is then crystallized from the solution.
Note: excess of H2SO4 in the solution is removed by adding more zinc, otherwise, the acid
will become concentrated during the process of crystallization. Other salts that may be
produced this way are FeSO4 and MgSO4 - from their respective metals.
Dilute acids are usually used. However, if the metal is less reactive, e.g. copper, concentrated
acid is then used.
For example, to prepare CuSO4. A mixture of copper turnings and dilute acid will not react.
However, if the acid is concentrated and warmed, effervescence of SO2 is produced. After a
time, the salt, CuSO4 is produced as solid, together with certain impurities - such as: solid
dark brown copper(II) sulphide (formed in small amount); excess copper; and excess conc.
H2SO4 - take note of these impurities.
To remove the impurities: - the excess H2SO4 is poured off. - the solid dark Cu2S and excess
copper are both insoluble in water. To remove them, a considerable amount of water is added
and heated gently to boiling. The solution is then filtered, leaving the impurities on the filter
paper. The crystals of the salt are obtained by crystallization.
Cu(s) + 2H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + 2H2O(l) + SO2(g)
CuSO4(s) + 5H2O(l) → CuSO4.5H2O
Note: * The process heating copper in conc. H2SO4 is the best laboratory method of preparing
SO2(g).
* Trioxonitrate (V) of certain metals are also prepared by action of the metals on dilute or
conc. trioxonitrate (V) acid:
e.g. 3Pb(s) + 8HNO3(aq) → 3Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 4H2O(l)+ 2NO(g) (dilute)
3Cu(s) + 8HNO3(aq) → 3Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 2NO(g) (dilute)
Zn(s) + 4HNO3(aq) → Zn(NO2)2(aq) + 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l) (conc)
Chlorides of heavy metals are generally prepared in the anhydrous state (dry state) by heating
the metal in a current of dry HCl. This is because the salts crystallize from their solutions
with water of crystallization if produced using HCl solution.
Attempt to remove the water of crystallization will result in hydrolysis to form basic salts.
l.e. ZnCl2.H2O heat → Zn(OH)Cl(s) + HCl(g)

2. Preparation of Salts by Double Decomposition

This method is used to prepare insoluble salts. lt involves the reaction between two soluble
compounds to produce one soluble and one insoluble products. Amongst the products, the
one of importance is the insoluble salt which is gotten as it precipitates out of the solution.
E.g. To prepare lead (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI) - suitable reactants for this are lead (II)
trioxonitrate (V) and tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid (or any other soluble tetraoxosulphate (VI),
e.g. Na2SO4). Pb(NO3)2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 2HNO3(aq)
Or Pb(NO3)2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)
Other salts which can be prepared by double decomposition are:
- Barium tetraoxosulphate (VI)
BaCl2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → BaSO4(aq) white precipitate + 2HCl(aq) 
- Lead (II) chloride
Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)
- Calcium trioxocarbonate (IV)
CaCl2(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → CaCO3(s) + 2NaCl(aq)
The principle behind double decomposition reactions is that the reactants decompose to their
respective ions, and then reconstitution of the ions take place to form the insoluble salts,
which are precipitated.

3. Preparation of Salts by Neutralization

Recall that neutralization is the reaction between acids and bases to form salts and water only.
To actually apply this method would depend on whether the base is soluble (i.e. alkali) or
insoluble in water. (a).
Using A Soluble Base (alkali)
Example - to prepare sodium tetraoxosulphate (VI) from dilute sodium hydroxide solution
and dilute tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid. An indicator, e.g. litmus solution is added to the
solution of NaOH to obtain a pale blue solution. The dilute H 2SO4 is then added until the
solution becomes purple (indicating the equivalence point). The litmus is removed by boiling
the solution with animal charcoal, and filtered. Crystals of the salt are then obtained from the
solution by crystallization.
2NaOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
Na2SO4(s) + 10H2O(l) → Na2SO4.10H2O(s)
Other salts that can be prepared by this method are:
- sodium chloride NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
- sodium trioxonitrate (V) NaOH(aq) + HNO3(aq) → NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l)
- Ammonium chloride NH3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NH4Cl(aq)
- Ammonium tetraoxosulphate (VI) 2NH3(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → (NH4)2SO4(aq)
(b). Using An Insoluble Base
Example - to prepare copper (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI) crystals from the insoluble base,
copper (II) oxide and tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid
- some dilute H2SO4 are heated, and black CuO is added gradually to obtain a blue solution of
CuSO4. More of CuO is added to reduce or to remove excess H 2SO4 from the solution. A
permanent black precipitate is obtained (indicating that all the H2SO4 have reacted). The
solution is filtered, and the salt is obtained by crystallization.
CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
CuSO4(s)+ 5H2O(l) → CuSO4.5H2O(s)
Other salts that can be prepared by this method are:
- Zinc tetraoxosulphate (VI) ZnO(s) + H 2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2O(l) Or Zn(OH)2(s) +
H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
- Lead trioxonitrate (V) PbO(s) + 2HNO 3(aq) → Pb(NO3)2(aq) + H2O(l) Or Pb(OH)2(s) +
2HNO3(aq) → Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2H2O(l)

4. Preparation of Salts by the Action of An Acid on The Trioxocarbonate (IV) of A

Metal
Note: trioxocarbonate(IV) of any metal will react will the mineral acids to produce the
corresponding salt of the metal, water, and carbondioxide - this is one of the properties of
acids.
E.g. ZnCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
PbCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq) → Pb(NO3)2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Limitations of this Method - the limitations or disadvantages of this method arise if the
carbonate and the salt produced are both insoluble in water. The salt formed is precipitated on
the carbonate before all of it completely react, thereby stopping the reaction prematurely.
E.g. CaCO3(s) (marble) + H2SO4(aq) → CaSO4(s) (slightly soluble) + H2O(l)+ CO2(g)
The slightly soluble CaSO4 precipitates on the unchanged marble, stopping the reaction after
few seconds. Note: considering the above limitation, it is not advisable to try to prepare an
insoluble salt from a compound which is also insoluble in water by a single process.
E.g. to produce insoluble lead (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI), PbSO4 from insoluble lead (II)
oxide,
PbO: do not go through this single process PbO(s) + H 2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + H2O(l) but,
first convert the insoluble PbO to soluble compound. l.e. PbO(s) + 2HNO 3(aq) →
Pb(NO3)2(aq) (soluble) + H2O(l) 
Then, the soluble lead (II) trioxonitrate (V) is reacted with tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid to give
the required salt - lead (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI). l.e. Pb(NO 3)2(aq) +H2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s)
+ 2HNO3(aq).

Hydrolysis of Salts
The process by which the cation and the anion of the salt reacts with water to produce either
acidity or basicity is solution is known as hydrolysis. It is the reverse of neutralization.
For example, if we consider a salt BA, on interaction with water it forms the equation below:
BA + H2O     HA(aq) + BOH(aq).

If the acid HA is a strong acid, it will dissociate completely resulting in the solution coming out
as acidic. However, if the base BOH is a strong alkali, then it will dissociate completely to give
an alkali solution.

E.g hydrolysis of CuSO4.

CuSO4 + H2O     H2SO4(aq) + CuOH(aq).

The H2SO4 formed is a strong acid, hence it will dissociate completely hence the solution of
CuSO4 in water is acidic to litmus even though the salt itself is a normal salt (normal salts are
supposed to be neutral to litmus!).

E.g 2 Hydrolysis of Na2CO3: If we consider, the salt Na2CO3, on hydrolysis the equation below
results:

Na2CO3 + 2H2O     H2CO3(aq) + 2NaOH(aq)

The acid formed, H2CO3 is a weak acid while the alkali, NaOH is a strong alkali. The NaOH
ionises completely to give a alkali solution hence Na2CO3 solution is alkali to litmus.

Salts formed from strong acids and bases e.g NaCl, Na2SO4, NaNO3, KNO3, K2SO4 do not
undergo hydrolysis.

Question:

1. Which of the following will be (i) acidic (ii) alkali in solution:

(NH4)2SO4, PbNO3, FeCl3, K2CO3

For each case, use equation to explain.

Degree of hydrolysis (h)

Degree of hydrolysis (h) is the fraction of the total number of moles of a salt that hydrolysed at
equilibrium

i.e Degree of hydrolysis (h) = No of moles of the salt hydrolysed at equilibrium

initial number of moles of the salts dissolved
Percentage hydrolysis = h × 100

Hydrolysis Constant

For the hydrolysis reaction

Salt + water     Acid + Base

Applying the law of mass action,

K= [Acid][Base]
[Salt][Water]

In hydrolysis, since water is acting as a reactant as well as a medium, then it is in excess,

hence the concentration of water, [water] = constant.

Therefore,

K × constant = [Acid][Base]
[Salt]

Therefore,

Kh = [Acid][Base]
[Salt]

Hence Kh is the hydrolysis constant.