Salt Examples in Chemistry

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Salt.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Chemistry.

Concept Recap

In chemistry, a salt is an ionic compound made of cations and anions, often formed when an acid reacts with a base in a neutralization.

A salt is the ionic compound left over after the acid-base part of a reaction has made water.

Read the full concept explanation →

How to Use These Examples

Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: Salt starts by identifying the acid/base species, ions produced or transferred, and pH evidence.

Common stuck point: Students often know a formula related to salt but skip the recognition step: Am I tracking acid/base identity, pH, ions in solution, neutralization, buffer behavior, or salt formation? That leads to a correct-looking substitution attached to the wrong chemical model.

Sense of Study hint: Ask: Am I tracking acid/base identity, pH, ions in solution, neutralization, buffer behavior, or salt formation?

Worked Examples

Example 1

medium

Worked example: identify spectator ions in

Pb(NO_3)_2 + 2KI \rightarrow PbI_2(s) + 2KNO_3

Answer

K^+\ \text{and}\ NO_3^-

First step

Pb^{2+}

and

I^-

combine into the precipitate

PbI_2

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Example 2

medium

Worked example: when

AgNO_3(aq) + KBr(aq) \rightarrow AgBr(s) + KNO_3(aq)

, the salt that precipitates is which?

Example 3

hard

Worked example: classify pH (acidic/basic/neutral) and justify each:

LiCl

(NH_4)_2SO_4

Na_3PO_4

Example 4

challenge

Worked example: 0.50 mol

Ca(OH)_2

reacts with 0.80 mol

HCl

. Find the moles of

CaCl_2

formed and what reagent is in excess.

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

easy

What type of compound is a salt?

Example 2

easy

What salt forms when

HCl

neutralizes

NaOH

Example 3

easy

KNO_3

a salt?

Example 4

easy

Name the salt formed from

H_2SO_4

and

KOH

Example 5

easy

Does dissolving

NaCl

in water produce ions?

Example 6

easy

Is the salt

NaCl

acidic, basic, or neutral in water?

Where does NaCl solution fall on the pH scale?

Example 7

easy

What two products always form in an acid-base neutralization?

Example 8

easy

Is the salt

NH_4Cl

acidic, basic, or neutral?

Where does NH₄Cl solution fall on the pH scale?

Example 9

medium

How many moles of NaCl form when 2 mol

HCl

react completely with

NaOH

Example 10

medium

Write the balanced equation for

H_2SO_4

reacting fully with

NaOH

Example 11

medium

What mass of

NaCl

(58.5 g/mol) forms from 0.50 mol

HCl

plus excess

NaOH

Example 12

medium

Predict whether sodium acetate (

CH_3COONa

) gives an acidic, basic, or neutral solution.

Where does sodium acetate solution fall on the pH scale?

Example 13

medium

Identify the spectator ions in

AgNO_3 + NaCl \rightarrow AgCl + NaNO_3

Example 14

medium

How many ions per formula unit does the salt

Na_3PO_4

release in water?

Example 15

medium

What salt and how many moles of water form when 1 mol

Ca(OH)_2

reacts with 2 mol

HCl

Example 16

medium

How many moles of

K_2SO_4

form when 2 mol

KOH

neutralizes excess

H_2SO_4

Example 17

medium

Predict whether the salt

KNO_3

gives an acidic, basic, or neutral solution.

Where does KNO₃ solution fall on the pH scale?

Example 18

challenge

A 25.0 mL sample of

HCl

is neutralized by 30.0 mL of 0.100 M

NaOH

. Find the moles of NaCl produced.

Example 19

challenge

Classify the pH (acidic/basic/neutral) of these salts and justify:

KCl

NH_4NO_3

K_2CO_3

Classify each salt solution as acidic, neutral, or basic.

Example 20

challenge

0.20 mol

H_3PO_4

reacts completely with

NaOH

. What salt forms and how many moles of NaOH are required?

Example 21

easy

What salt forms when

HBr

neutralizes

KOH

Example 22

easy

CaCl_2

a salt?

Example 23

easy

Name the salt formed when

HNO_3

neutralizes

LiOH

Example 24

easy

Na_2SO_4

acidic, basic, or neutral in water?

Example 25

easy

What ions does

MgCl_2

release in water?

Example 26

medium

How many moles of

KBr

form from 0.40 mol

HBr

plus excess

KOH

Example 27

medium

Balance:

HNO_3 + Mg(OH)_2 \rightarrow ? + H_2O

Example 28

medium

What mass of

KCl

(74.5 g/mol) forms from 0.20 mol

HCl

plus excess

KOH

Example 29

medium

Predict the pH behavior of

NH_4Br

(acidic / basic / neutral).

Example 30

medium

How many ions per formula unit does

(NH_4)_2SO_4

release in water?

Example 31

medium

How many moles of water form when 1 mol

H_3PO_4

reacts fully with

KOH

Example 32

medium

How many moles of

CaSO_4

form when 0.50 mol

Ca(OH)_2

reacts with excess

H_2SO_4

Example 33

medium

What ions does

K_3PO_4

release in water and how many per formula unit?

Example 34

medium

Predict: is the salt

CH_3COOK

(potassium acetate) acidic, basic, or neutral in water?

Example 35

medium

Na_2CO_3

comes from strong base

NaOH

and weak acid

H_2CO_3

. Predict its pH behavior.

Example 36

hard

How many grams of

Na_2SO_4

(142 g/mol) form from 0.10 mol

H_2SO_4

plus excess

NaOH

Example 37

hard

35.0 mL of

HCl

is neutralized by 25.0 mL of 0.200 M

NaOH

. How many moles of

NaCl

form?

Example 38

hard

How many moles of

MgCl_2

form when 50.0 mL of 0.200 M

HCl

reacts with excess

Mg(OH)_2

Example 39

hard

How many grams of

K_3PO_4

(212 g/mol) form when 0.30 mol

H_3PO_4

reacts fully with excess

KOH

Example 40

hard

In the net ionic equation for

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) \rightarrow NaCl(aq) + H_2O(l)

, write the net ionic equation.

Example 41

challenge

A 0.10 mol sample of

H_2SO_4

is mixed with 0.15 mol

NaOH

. Which salt forms, and how many moles of which acid/base are left over?

← Back to Salt Practice Mode

Related Concepts

Neutralization Ionic Bond Electrolyte

Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

neutralizationionic bond