The name of a salt comes from TWO parts:
- First part: from the metal or base (e.g., sodium, copper, calcium)
- Second part: from the acid used:
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl) → chloride
- Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) → sulfate
- Nitric acid (HNO₃) → nitrate
Examples:
- NaOH + HCl → Sodium chloride (NaCl)
- Ca(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ → Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄)
- KOH + HNO₃ → Potassium nitrate (KNO₃)
Quick Check: Name the salt formed when potassium hydroxide reacts with nitric acid.
Potassium nitrate (KNO₃). The metal comes from the base (potassium hydroxide → potassium), and the ending comes from the acid (nitric acid → nitrate). Equation: KOH + HNO₃ → KNO₃ + H₂O.
This key facts covers Key Facts: Naming Salts within Neutralisation Reactions for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Neutralisation Reactions in Chemical Changes for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 7 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Neutralisation Reactions
Which word equation correctly represents a neutralisation reaction?
Explain why the ionic equation for any strong acid-alkali neutralisation is always H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l).