Salt Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
- For other meanings of the word salt see salt (disambiguation)
They are typically the product of a chemical reaction between:
- a base and an acid, forming a salt, e.g. NH3 + HCl --> NH4Cl ammonium chloride
- a hydroxide and an acid, forming a salt + water, e.g. 2NaOH + H2SO4 --> Na2SO4 + 2H2O sodium sulfate
- a metal and an acid, forming a salt + hydrogen, e.g. Mg + H2SO4 --> MgSO4 + H2 magnesium sulfate
- an acid forming oxide and a base forming oxide, forming a salt, e.g. CO2 + CaO --> CaCO3 calcium carbonate
However, many other salts are poisonous, so care must be taken to not confuse them with NaCl(table salt).
In general, salts are ionic compounds which form crystals. They are often soluble in water, where the two ions separate. Salts typically have a high melting point, low hardness, and low compressibility. If molten or dissolved in water, they conduct electricity.
Salts are named according to their constituent ions. The cationic components, often metal ions or ammonium, are given first, followed by the anionic components. Anions are often named according to the their conjugate acid:
- acetates are the salts of acetic acid
- carbonates are the salts of carbonic acid
- chlorides are the salts of hydrochloric acid
- cyanides are the salts of prussic acid also known as hydrocyanic acid also known as hydrogen cyanide
- nitrates are the salts of nitric acid
- nitrites are the salts of nitrous acid
- phosphates are the salts of phosphoric acid
- sulfates are the salts of sulfuric acid
- citrates are the salts of citric acid
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Salt was such a valuable commodity in ancient times that soldiers often had their wages paid in salt, hence the term 'salary'.
This is an Article on Salt. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Salt History
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