In this article, I have explained that what is salts and definition of salts and its characteristics. if you want to learn other chemistry articles like acid base indicators etc.
What is salt?
Salt is a chemical compound which is used in our houses. It
is also an ionic compound which is formed by neutralization reaction between
acids and bases. Mostly salts are electrically neutral. There are many salts
but sodium chloride is most common of them. Sodium chloride is also called
table salt or common salt. This salt is used to use in our home to increase the
taste of food.
For example: Sodium chloride, potassium chloride etc.
Definition of salt in chemistry
In chemistry, a salt is a
chemical compound which consist an ionic assembly of cations and anions. These
types of chemical compounds are called salts.
General characteristics of all salt
v Mostly salts are crystalline solid.
v
Some of them are transparent and some opaque.
v
Mostly salts are soluble in water.
v
Salt solutions conducts electricity in their
molten state.
v
The taste of the salts may be salty, sour,
sweet, bitter and savoury.
v
Mostly salts are inodorous.
v
Most of the salts are colourless and some
coloured.
Formation of the salts
All Salts are produced by many reactions involving acids and
bases.
1.By Neutralization reaction of acids and bases
Salts formation by Neutralization reaction is general.
For example,
NaOH + HCl ⎯→
NaCl + H2O
KOH + HNO3 ⎯→
KNO3 +H2O
In all the above chemical reactions we can see that the
positively charged ions or cations of the salts come from the bases. So, these are
known as the ‘basic radicals’ of the salts. And the negatively charged ions or anions
of the salts comes from the acids. So, these are known as the ‘acid radical’ of
the salts.
2. By chemical reaction of acids on metal
Salts are also formed by reaction between an acid and a metal.
For example: Zn + H2SO4 ⎯→
ZnSO4 +H2
3. By chemical reaction of acids on metal carbonates and hydrogen carbonates
Salts are also
produced by the reactions between acids and metal carbonates and hydrogen
carbonates or bicarbonates.
CaCO3 + 2HCl ⎯→
CaCl2 +H2O + CO2
NaHCO3 + HCl ⎯→ NaCl + H2O + CO2
Types or classification of salt in chemistry
There are three types of the salts –
1. Neutral salt: Salts are produced by the reaction between a strong acid and strong base. The nature of these salts is neutral. The salts which have the value of pH is almost equal to 7. This type of the salts is called neutral salts.
For example: Sodium chloride, Sodium
sulphate. Postassium chloride, etc.
2.
Acidic salt: Those salts which are formed by
reaction between a strong acid and weak base are known as Acidic salts. The
nature of these salts is acidic. The salts which have the value of pH is less
than 7. This type of the salts is called neutral salts.
For example: Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium
chloride, etc.
3.
Basic salt: Those salts which are formed by
reaction between a weak acid and strong base are known as Basic Salts. The
nature of these salts is basic. The salts which have the value of pH is more
than 7. This type of the salts is called neutral salts.
For example: Sodium carbonate, Sodium
acetate, etc.