FORM 4 CHEMISTRY

CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
A. SALTS
Learning Outcomes
You should be able to:

state examples of salts used in daily life

explain the meaning of salt
identify soluble and insoluble salts
describe the preparation of soluble salts
describe the purification of soluble salts by recrystallisation
list physical characteristics of crystals
describe the preparation of insoluble salts
write chemical and ionic equations for reactions used in the preparation of
salts

design an activity to prepare a specified salt

construct ionic equations through the continuous variation method

solve problems involving calculation of quantities of reactants or products in stoichiometric
reactions

Activity 1: Definition and uses of salts

1. A salt is a .. formed when the .. ion in an is
replaced by a . ion or an .. ion.
2. Match the following salts with their uses.
Salts
Barium sulphate, BaSO4
Hydrated calcium sulphate,
CaSO4
Iron sulphate heptahydrate,
FeSO4.7H2O
Ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3
Copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4
Sodium chloride, NaCl
Sodium hydrogen carbonate,
NaHCO3
Sodium nitrite, NaNO2
Sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl
Tin(II) fluoride SnF2
Barium chromate(VI)

Uses
Pesticide
Bleaching agent

Paint for yellow line on road

Barium meals for patients who

need to take X-ray of
their stomach and intestine
Nitrogenous fertilizer
Toothpaste
Iron pills for anaemia

Baking powder
Food preservative
Flavouring agent
Plaster of Paris for broken bone

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 2: Identify soluble and insoluble salt

Ba2+
SO4 2Ca2+
Pb2+
Pb2+
Ag+
Hg+

NO3 Water

Na+
K+
NH4+

Cl-

CO3 2-

1. Complete the table below.

Compound
Ammonium salts
Sodium and potassium salts
Ethanoate salts
Nitrate salts
Chloride salts
Sulphate salts
Carbonate salts
Metal oxides
Metal hydroxides

Solubility in water

2. State whether each of the following salt is soluble or insoluble in water.

No

Formula of salt

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

PbCO3
NaCl
CaSO4
AgNO3
K2CO3
FeCl3
Na2SO4
NH4NO3
CuSO4
PbCl2
ZnCO3
Ca(NO3)2
Na2CO3
AgCl
PbSO4
Pb(NO3)2
(NH4)2CO3
HgCl2
Na2SO4

Solubility in water (
, X )

No

Formula of salt

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

MgCO3
KCl
(NH4)2SO4
Cu(NO3)2
SnCO3
CaCl2
BaSO4
KNO3
Ag2CO3
MgCl2
ZnSO4
Ba(NO3)2
FeCO3
NH4Cl
Fe(NO3)3
MgSO4
BaCO3
ZnCl2
FeSO4

Ba2+
2+
2+
CaPb
2+
PbAg+
Hg2+

Solubility in water (
, X )

Na+
K+ NO
3 +
NH
4
WaterAir

FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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20

NaNO3

40

Mg(NO3)2

Activity 3: Write the general equations for reactions used in the preparation of soluble salts
1. Complete these general equations for preparing soluble salts.
a. Acid + alkali + .
b. Acid + metal +
c. Acid + base + .
d. Acid + metal carbonate

........... + + .

Note: Reaction a is used to prepare soluble salts of ........................................,

.................................... and .............................................
Reaction b, c and d are used to prepare soluble salts except ammonium salts, sodium
salts or potassium salts.
2. Using the general equations in question 1, complete the following chemical equation. It may also be
necessary to balance the equation.
a. NaOH + HCl .. + .
b. Mg + H2SO4 + .
c. (i) CuO + HCl +
(ii) Zn(OH)2 + HNO3 .............................. + .........................
d. MgCO3 + H2SO4 + + .
3. Deduce the identity of the acid, metal, salt or other product by filling in the missing details in this table
of preparation of soluble salt
Method of preparation

Reactants

Salt Formed

Other
product

a) Acid + alkali

...................... +

Sodium chloride

Hydrogen

b) Acid + metal

Zinc + sulphuric acid

c) Acid + base

Zinc sulphate

Water

d) Acid + metal
carbonate

Magnesium sulphate

+
..................

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 4: Write out the procedure for the preparation of soluble salts of sodium, potassium and
ammonium
Soluble salt
Name two chemical
substances to prepare the
salt

Sodium chloride, NaCl

1. ....
2.

Chemical equation
Diagram

Procedure

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 5: Write out the procedure for the preparation of soluble salts (except sodium salts,
potassium salts or ammonium salt)
Soluble salt
Name two chemical
substances to prepare the
salt

Copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4

1.

....

2.

Chemical equation
Diagram

Procedure

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 6: Write chemical and ionic equations for reactions used in the preparation of insoluble salts
1. Insoluble salts can be prepared by .. reaction (double decomposition reaction). In this
reaction, two soluble salts solutions are mixed together to form the ....................... salt. The first soluble
salt solution contains the ..................... of the insoluble salt and the second soluble salt solution contains
the ...................... of the insoluble salt.
Soluble salt solution
containing cation M+

+ Soluble salt solution

containing anion X-

Chemical equation :

AgNO3 (aq)

NaCl (aq)

AgCl (s) + NaNO3(aq)

Ag+ (aq)

Cl- (aq)

AgCl (s)

Ionic equation :

Insoluble salt MX

2. Preparation of insoluble salts

Example 1: Barium sulphate, BaSO4
Solution 1: Solution 2: .....................
Chemical equation:
Ionic equation:
Observation: A white precipitate is formed
Example 2: Copper(II) carbonate, CuCO3
Solution 1: Solution 2: .
Chemical equation : ....................................
Ionic equation : ....
Observation : A .. precipitate is formed
Example 3: Lead(II) chromate(VI), PbCrO4
Solution 1: . Solution 2: ............
Chemical equation :
Ionic equation : .
Observation : A ............... precipitate is formed

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 7: Describe the preparation of insoluble salts

Insoluble salt
Name two chemical
substances to prepare the
salt

Lead(II) iodide, PbI2

1. ....
2.

Chemical equation
Ionic equation
Diagram

Procedure

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 8: Physical characteristics of crystals

Complete the physical characteristics of crystals in the spaces given below

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 9: Construct ionic equation for the formation of lead(II) chromate(VI) using the continuous
variation method

Fixed the volumes

of lead (II) nitrate
solution at 5.00
cm3.

Test tube 2
2.00.cm3 of
potassium chromate
(VI solution), test
tube 33.00 cm3
varying the
volumes of
potassium
chromate(VI)
solution .........

Figure 1
Figure 1 shows seven test tubes for the reaction between lead(II) nitrate Pb(NO 3)2 0.5 mol dm-3 and
potassium chromate(VI) K2CrO4 0.5 mol dm-3.
(a) (i) Using a ruler, measure the height of lead(II) chromate(VI) precipitate formed.

Record the readings in Table 1.

Test tube

Volume of lead(II) nitrate

solution /cm3

5.00

5.00

5.00

5.00

5.00

5.00

5.00

Volume of potassium
chromate(VI) solution
/cm3

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

Height of precipitate / cm

Table 1

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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(b) Based on Table 1, draw a graph of the height of the precipitate against volume of potassium chromate
(VI) solution on the graph paper.

(c) On the graph that you have drawn in (b),

(i) mark and write the minimum volume of potassium chromate(VI) solution needed for complete reaction
with 5.00 cm3 of lead(II) nitrate solution 0.5 mol dm-3.
(ii) Calculate the number of moles of chromate(VI) ions that has reacted with 1 mole of lead(II)
ions.

(iii) Write the ionic equation for the formation of lead(II) chromate(VI).

(d) What can you observe about the height of the precipitate in Figure 1?

..
(e) What is your inference based on your answer in (d)?
.

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 10: Solve problems involving calculation of quantities of reactants or products in

stoichiometric reactions
Example 1: A student prepares copper (II) nitrate by reacting copper (II) oxide with 100 cm 3
1.5 mol dm-3 nitric acid. Calculate the mass of copper (II) oxide needed to react
completely with the acid. [Relative atomic mass: Cu, 64; O, 16]
Solution:
Chemical equation: CuO + 2HNO3 Cu(NO3)2 + H2O
Mole ratio : 1 mole
2 mole
1 mole
1 mole
Number of mole of CuO = 1 x Number of moles of HNO3

2
Number of mole of CuO = 1 x 0.15 = 0.075 mole

2
Mass of CuO = 0.075 x (64 + 16) = 6 g
Question:
1. Excess zinc powder is added to react completely with 50 cm 3 of 2.0 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid.
(a) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid.
(b) Calculate the number of moles of hydrochloric acid used.

(c) Calculate the volume of hydrogen gas liberated at room conditions.

[Molar volume: 24 dm3 mol-1]

Excess magnesium carbonate powder, MgCO3, is reacted with 100 cm3 of a 1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid
H2SO4 , What is the mass of magnesium sulphate formed?
[Relative atomic mass : Mg =24, O=16, S = 32 ]

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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3. 0.12 g of magnesium reacts with excess hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas. [Relative atomic
mass: H, 1; Mg, 24, CI, 35.5. Molar volume: 24 dm3 mol-1 at room conditions]
Fnd the
(a) mass of salt formed
(b) volume of gas produced

4. A sample of insoluble silver chloride is prepared by mixing 50 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 silver nitrate solution
and z cm3 of 0.5 mol dm3 sodium chloride solution.
[Relative atomic mass: Ag, 108; C,l 35.5]
(a) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride.

(b) Calculate the volume, z, of the sodium chloride needed to react completely with the silver
nitrate solution.

(b) Calculate the mass of silver chloride obtained.

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FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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B. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SALTS

Learning Outcomes
You should be able to:
state the meaning of qualitative analysis
make inferences on salts based on their colour and solubility in water
describe tests for the identification of gases
describe the action of heat on salts
describe the tests for anions
state observation of reaction of cations with sodium hydroxide solution and ammonia
solution
describe confirmatory tests for Fe2+, Fe3+, Pb2+ and NH4+

Activity 11: Qualitative analysis

1. Qualitative analysis of a salt is a chemical technique used to identify the ...... that are present in a
salt by analysing its . and . properties. Physical tests include colour
and solubility in water. Chemical tests include test for gases, test for anions and test for cations.
2. Complete the table below for the physical properties of some common salts.
Salt

Colour
Solid

Potassium salts
Sodium salts
Ammonium salts
Calcium salts
Lead(II) salts
Zinc salts
(with colourless anions)
Carbonate salts
Chloride salts
Nitrate salts
Sulphate salts
(with colourless anions)
Iron(II) chloride
Iron(II) nitrate
Iron(II) sulphate
Copper(II) chloride
Copper(II) nitrate
Copper(II) sulphate
Copper(II) carbonate

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Aqueous solution

FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Compound
Ammonium salts
Sodium and potassium salts
Ethanoate salts
Nitrate salts
Chloride salts
Sulphate salts
Carbonate salts
Metal oxides
Metal hydroxides

Solubility in water

Activity 12: Confirmatory tests for gases

Tests for gases

Complete the observation for the confirmatory test for gases

Gas
Carbon
dioxide

Method
Bubble the gas through limewater

Oxygen

Insert a glowing wooden splinter into

the test tube

Nitrogen
dioxide

Bring a piece of moist blue litmus

paper to the mouth of the test tube

Chlorine

Bring a piece of moist blue litmus

paper to the mouth of the test tube

Diagram

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Observation

FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Ammonia

Bring a piece of moist red litmus

paper to the mouth of the test tube
.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen
chloride

Bring a lighted wooden splinter to the

mouth of the test tube

Use a glass rod to bring a drop of

concentrated ammonia solution to the
mouth of test tube

Activity 13: Action of heat on carbonate salts

Most carbonate salts (except sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate) decomposes on heating to produce
metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas.

Metal oxideColourCopper (II)

oxideBlackZinc oxideHot: yellow
Cold: WhiteLead (II) oxideHot:
brown Cold: yellowIron(III)
oxideBrown

Lime water
turn chalky

Complete the chemical equations and observations for the action of heat on carbonate salt
Carbonate salt
Potassium carbonate
Sodium carbonate
Calcium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate
Aluminium carbonate
Zinc carbonate
Iron(III) carbonate
Lead(II) carbonate
Copper(II) carbonate

Action of heat
Do not decomposes
Decomposes to produce metal oxide and carbon dioxide
Example:
+
Observation :

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FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
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Silver carbonate

Decomposes to produce metal, oxygen and carbon dioxide

Example:
. ... + .. + ..
Observation:

Ammonium carbonate

Decomposes to produce ammonia, water and carbon dioxide

Example:
.. . + ... +
Observation:

Activity 14: Action of heat on nitrate salts

Heat

Brown gas
released turns
moist blue
litmus to red
(NO2)

Heat

Colourless gas
released lights up
glowing splinter

Activity: Complete the chemical equation and observation for the action of heat on nitrate salt
Nitrate salts
Potassium nitrate
Sodium nitrate

Action of heat
Decomposes to produce a nitrite salt and oxygen
Example:
..... + .
.. .. + .
Observation:

Calcium nitrate
Magnesium nitrate
Aluminium nitrate
Zinc nitrate
Iron(II) nitrate
Iron(III) nitrate
Lead(II)nitrate
Copper(II) nitrate

Decomposes to produce metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen

Example:
. . + +
Observation:

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Silver nitrate

Decomposes to produce metal, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen

Example:
. . + +
Observation:

Ammonium nitrate

Decomposes to produce nitrous oxide and water

Example:
..... + .
Observation:

Activity 15: Confirmatory tests for anions

Tests for anions

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CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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Activity 16: Confirmatory tests for cations (general tests)

Tests for cations

1. The presence of cations can be tested using sodium hydroxide solution and ammonia solution.
These two alkalis provide hydroxide ions that combine with cations to form metal hydroxides.
2. Except for ammonium ion, most cations will combine with hydroxide ions to form insoluble metal
hydroxide (precipitate). The precipitate may or may not be soluble in excess alkali.
3. The colour of the precipitate formed and their solubility in excess alkalis are used to identify the cations.
Drop by drop of alkali
(NaOH or NH3)
Observe the formation of
precipitate

Observe the solubility

of precipitate in excess
alkali

Solution of cations

State whether each of the following precipitate is soluble or insoluble in excess alkali.
Sodium hydroxide solution
Drop by drop
In excess

Ammonia solution
Drop by drop
In excess

Soluble ( , X )
2+

Ca
Zn2+

White precipitate
White precipitate

Soluble ( , X )
No change
White precipitate
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FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
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Al 3+
Pb 2+
Mg2+
Cu 2+
Fe 2+
Fe 3+

White precipitate
White precipitate
White precipitate
Blue precipitate
Green precipitate
Brown precipitate

White precipitate
White precipitate
White precipitate
Blue precipitate
Green precipitate
Brown precipitate

Activity 17: Confirmatory tests for Fe2+, Fe3+, Pb2+ and NH4+ ions (specific tests)
(A) The table shows below show how confirmatory tests are conducted for ammonium ion, NH 4+, iron(II)
ion, Fe2+, iron(III) ion, Fe3+ and lead(II) ion, Pb2+.
Cation
NH4+

Procedure

Observation

Method I:

Method I:

1. About 2 cm3 of ammonium chloride

solution is poured into a test tube.

The colourless gas released turns red

litmus paper blue.

2. About 4 cm3 of dilute sodium

hydroxide solution is added to the
test tube and the mixture is shaken
well.
3. The mixture is carefully heated and
the gas liberated is tested with a
piece of moist red litmus paper.
Method II:
Method II:
A brown precipitate is formed.
3

1. About 2 cm of ammonium chloride

solution is poured into a test tube.
2. A dropper is used to add Nesslers
reagent drop by drop to the
solution.
3. Any change that occurs is noted.
Fe2+

1. About 2 cm3 of iron(II) sulphate

solution is poured into a test tube.

A dark blue precipitate is formed.

2. A dropper is used to add potassium

hexacyanoferrate(III) solution, drop
by drop into the test tube.
3. Any change that occurs is recorded.

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Fe3+

Method I:

Method I:

1. About 2 cm3 of iron(III) chloride

solution is poured into a test tube.

A dark blue precipitate is formed.

2. A dropper is used to add potassium

hexacyanoferrate(II) solution drop by
drop into the test tube.
3. Any changes that occurs is recorded.
Method II:

Method II:

1. About 2 cm3 of iron(III) chloride

solution is poured into a test tube.

A blood-red colouration is formed.

2. A dropper is used to add potassium

thiocyanate solution drop by drop into
the test tube.
3. Any change that occurs is recorded.
Pb2+

Method I:

Method I:

1. About 2 cm3 of lead(II) nitrate solution

is poured into a test tube.

A white precipitate which is soluble in

hot water but insoluble in cold water is
formed.

2. A dropper is used to add about 1 cm3

of sodium chloride solution into the
test tube.
3. About 3 cm3 of distilled water is
added and the mixture is boiled.
4. The mixture is then cooled using
running water from the tap.
5. Any change that occurs is recorded.
Method II:

Method II:

1. About 2 cm3 of lead(II) nitrate is

poured into a test tube.

A yellow precipitate which is soluble in

hot water but insoluble in cold water is
formed.

2. A dropper is used to add about 1 cm3

of potassium iodide solution into the
test tube.
3. About 3 cm3 of distilled water is
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FORM 4 CHEMISTRY
CHAPTER 8: SALTS
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added and the mixture is boiled.

4. The mixture is then cooled using
running water from the tap.
5. Any change that occurs is recorded.

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