What are Salts?

Salts are chemical compounds that are formed when acids and bases react together. They are made up of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). The most common salt is sodium chloride, which is also known as table salt.

Formation of Salts

Salts are formed through a chemical reaction called neutralization. During neutralization, an acid and a base react to form water and a salt. The general equation for this reaction is:

Acid + Base → Salt + Water

Properties of Salts

Salts have several important properties:

1. They are crystalline solids at room temperature.
2. They have high melting and boiling points.
3. They are often soluble in water.
4. They can conduct electricity when dissolved in water or melted.

Types of Salts

There are different types of salts, including:

1. Normal salts: These are formed from the reaction between a strong acid and a strong base.
2. Acidic salts: These are formed from the reaction between a strong acid and a weak base.
3. Basic salts: These are formed from the reaction between a weak acid and a strong base.
4. Double salts: These are formed from the combination of two different salts.

Common Salts

Some common salts include:

• Sodium chloride (NaCl)
• Potassium nitrate (KNO₃)
• Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)
• Ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl)

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about salts:

1. Salts are formed through neutralization reactions between acids and bases.
2. They have high melting and boiling points and can conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
3. There are different types of salts, including normal, acidic, basic, and double salts.
4. Common salts include sodium chloride, potassium nitrate, calcium carbonate, and ammonium chloride.