Preparation of Salts

A salt is formed when the replaceable hydrogen in an acid is substituted by metal / ammonium ions.

HHCl C

NaCl
salt

H2SO4
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CuSO4

Isotonic drinks

Fertilizers

Photographic Film

Baking powder

Plaster Cast Epsom Salts

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Na+ K+ NH4
+

All the salts of these ions are soluble in water

examples KNO3 Na2SO4

All nitrates are soluble in water

Ca(NO3)2

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3 All chlorides are soluble except

PbCl2 AgCl

Lead

Salts

4 All sulphates are soluble except

CaSO4
BaSO4 PbSO4

Can Be Lethal

5 All carbonates are insoluble except

Na2CO3 K2CO3 (NH4)2CO3

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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 clean, dry crystals with a reasonable yield. Therefore, it is also crucial to consider the following. (i) (ii) The ease of removing all excess reactants and impurities. The retention of water of crystallisation.

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Is the salt soluble?

NO

Ionic Precipitation
All insoluble salts

YES

Are the reagents very soluble in water?

NO Reaction with metal / insoluble base

a) Acid with metal except Na+, K+, NH4+ , Cu2+, Ag+ salts b) Acid with insoluble base / carbonate except Na+, K+, NH4+ salts
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YES
2

Titration method
Acid with soluble base ONLY Na+, K+, NH4+ salts

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:
a b

To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

Sulphuric acid Which acid to use? _______________________ What are the suitable reactions that will produce the required salt with the chosen acid?

H2SO4 (aq) + CuO (s) H2SO4 (aq) + CuCO3 (s)

c

CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l) CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2

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

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Method 1 (for SOLUBLE SALTS)

Example 1:
from suphuric acid and copper(II) oxide
Reaction chosen

To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

H2SO4 (aq) + CuO (s)

CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

CuO

(1) Measure 50 cm3 of dil. H2SO4.

(2)WARM Speed up the reaction

(3) Add CuO one spatula at atime, stirring until no more CuO dissolves. Solid powder seen at bottom of beaker Why ? Ensure all the acid has reacted. Hence, no acid contamintion in the salt

(4) Filter Remove excess CuO. (6) cool for the crystals to form.

(5) Evaporate filtrate to a a hot concentrated / saturated solution

Crystals
Filter paper

(7) Wash with a little cold distilled water and filter to

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obtain crystals. (8) press crystals between pieces of filter paper and air-dry.

Method 1 (for SOLUBLE SALTS)

Example 1:
Reaction chosen

To prepare copper(II) sulphate crystal

from 'suphuric acid and copper(II) carbonate'

CuCO3

(1) Measure 50 cm3 of dil. H2SO4.

(2) Add excess CuCO3,ie.until no no more solid dissolves

(3) Filter To remove excess CuCO3.

To ensure all the (5) cool for the acid has reacted crystals to form. and prevent acid contamination the (6) filter to obtain crystals. the salt (7) Wash with a little cold distilled water (8) press crystals between pieces of filter paper and air-dry.
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(4) Evaporate until crystals start to appear to obtain a hot saturated solution
Crystals Filter paper

Method 2 (for Na+, K+, NH4+)

Example :
Reaction chosen

TITRATION- Make very soluble salts

To prepare potassium chloride
KCl (aq) + H2O (l) HCl (aq) + KOH (aq)

(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 methyl orange Titrate with dil HCl until the colour of the indicator changes from yellow to light-orange

Pipette 20cm3 of KOH into a conical flask

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Method 2 (for Na+, K+, NH4+)

Example :
Reaction chosen

TITRATION Make very soluble salts

To prepare potassium chloride
KCl (aq) + H2O (l) HCl (aq) + KOH (aq)

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

(b) carry out CRYSTALLISATION

evaporation to dryness

(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)

Examples of precipitation 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.

AgNO3

NaCl in excess

A white On precipitate standing in an aqueous solution

BaSO4 ___________ (s) PbI

...

White precipitate, AgCl (s), settles to the bottom.

+ 2 KNO3 _____________ (aq)

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

(c)Pb(NO3)2 (aq) +

KI (aq)

2 ___________ (s)

+ _____________ (aq)

2KNO3

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 SO42Therefore, the two reactants selected must be aqueous solution containing Ba2+ and aqueous solution containing SO42-

BaSO4
Ba2+ from Ba(NO3)2 BaCl2 SO42- from (a) Na2SO4(aq) , (b) K2SO4 (aq) or (c) H2SO4 ( aq). BaSO4 (S) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

Reaction chosen

Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (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). (3) Wash the insoluble salt with distilled water. (4) Dry the salt in air by using filter paper.
Ppt may sink to the bottom

Ba(NO3)2

Na2SO4

A white precipitate in an aqueous solution

or

residue
Wash with distilled water

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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 In excess KCl

2.
What are substances present in the aqueous mixture?

AgCl (s)
AgNO3
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KCl

In excess