IGCSEChemistryOxford AQARevision NotesAcids, Bases & SaltsThe Properties of Acids & BasesNaming Salts

Naming Salts (Oxford AQA IGCSE Chemistry)

Revision Note

Philippa Platt

Written by: Philippa Platt

Reviewed by: Stewart Hird

Oxford AQA ChemistryOxford AQA Combined Science Double Award: Chemistry

Naming Salts

  • The name of a salt has two parts

  • The first part comes from the metal, metal oxide or metal carbonate used in the reaction

  • The second part comes from the acid

  • Hydrochloric acid

    • This always produces salts that end in chloride and contain the chloride ion, Cl–

  • Sulfuric acid

    • This always produces salts that end in sulfate and contain the sulfate ion, SO42–

  • Nitric acid

    • This always produces salts that end in nitrate and contain the nitrate ion, NO3–

Naming Salts Examples

Acid

Base

Name of Salt 

Formula of Salt

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4

Calcium carbonate, CaCO3

Calcium sulfate 

CaSO4

Hydrochloric acid, HCl

Magnesium oxide, MgO

Magnesium chloride

MgCl2

Nitric acid, HNO3

Potassium hydroxide, KOH

Potassium nitrate 

KNO3

Worked Example

Name the salts formed in the following reactions:

  1. zinc + hydrochloric acid

  2. copper oxide + sulfuric acid

  3. calcium carbonate + nitric acid

Answer:

To name the salt, use the name of the metal followed by the type of acid

  1. zinc chloride

  2. copper sulfate

  3. calcium nitrate

Worked Example

Write the balanced symbol equation for the reaction between nitric acid and calcium hydroxide.

Answer

Step 1: Write the formula of the reactants

  • Nitric acid = HNO3

  • Calcium hydroxide = Ca(OH)2

Step 2: Write the formula of the products of the reaction

  • Calcium nitrate = Ca(NO3)2

  • Water = H2O

Step 3: Write the symbol equation and balance

  • HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca(NO3)2 + H2O

    • There are two nitrate ions on the right hand side so a 2 must be placed in front of the HNO3

  • 2HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca(NO3)2 + H2O

    • There are now 4 hydrogen atoms on the left hand side so a 2 should be placed in front of the H2O

  • 2HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O

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    Philippa Platt

    Author: Philippa Platt

    Expertise: Chemistry

    Philippa has worked as a GCSE and A level chemistry teacher and tutor for over thirteen years. She studied chemistry and sport science at Loughborough University graduating in 2007 having also completed her PGCE in science. Throughout her time as a teacher she was incharge of a boarding house for five years and coached many teams in a variety of sports. When not producing resources with the chemistry team, Philippa enjoys being active outside with her young family and is a very keen gardener

    Stewart Hird

    Author: Stewart Hird

    Expertise: Chemistry Lead

    Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.