Alkali salts
Encyclopedia
Alkali salts or basic salts are salts which are the product of the neutralization of a strong base and a weak acid.
Rather than being neutral, as some salts are, basic salts are, as their name suggests, bases
. What makes these compounds basic is that the conjugate base from the weak acid hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. In sodium carbonate, for example, the carbonate from the carbonic acid hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. The chloride from the hydrochloric acid in sodium chloride does not hydrolyze, though, so sodium chloride is not basic.
The difference between a basic salt and an alkali is that an alkali is the soluble hydroxide compound of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. A basic salt is any salt that hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. The hydroxide compounds are not salts.
Another definition of a basic salt would be a salt that contains amounts of both hydroxide and other anions. White lead
is an example. It is basic lead carbonate, or lead carbonate hydroxide.
These salts are insoluble and are obtained through precipitation reactions.
These salts may include:
Examples of other strongly alkaline salts, include:
Rather than being neutral, as some salts are, basic salts are, as their name suggests, bases
Base (chemistry)
For the term in genetics, see base A base in chemistry is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or more generally, donate electron pairs. A soluble base is referred to as an alkali if it contains and releases hydroxide ions quantitatively...
. What makes these compounds basic is that the conjugate base from the weak acid hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. In sodium carbonate, for example, the carbonate from the carbonic acid hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. The chloride from the hydrochloric acid in sodium chloride does not hydrolyze, though, so sodium chloride is not basic.
The difference between a basic salt and an alkali is that an alkali is the soluble hydroxide compound of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. A basic salt is any salt that hydrolyzes to form a basic solution. The hydroxide compounds are not salts.
Another definition of a basic salt would be a salt that contains amounts of both hydroxide and other anions. White lead
White lead
White lead is the chemical compound 2·Pb2. It was formerly used as an ingredient for lead paint and a cosmetic called Venetian Ceruse, because its opaque quality made it a good pigment. However, it tended to cause lead poisoning, and its use has been banned in most countries.White lead has been...
is an example. It is basic lead carbonate, or lead carbonate hydroxide.
These salts are insoluble and are obtained through precipitation reactions.
Examples
- Calcium carbonateCalcium carbonateCalcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found in rocks in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, coal balls, pearls, and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime,...
- Sodium carbonateSodium carbonateSodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
- Sodium acetateSodium acetateSodium acetate, CH3COONa, also abbreviated NaOAc, also sodium ethanoate, is the sodium salt of acetic acid. This colourless salt has a wide range of uses.-Industrial:...
- Potassium cyanidePotassium cyanidePotassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and...
- Sodium sulfideSodium sulfideSodium sulfide is the name used to refer to the chemical compound Na2S, but more commonly it refers to the hydrate Na2S·9H2O. Both are colorless water-soluble salts that give strongly alkaline solutions...
Alkaline salts
'Alkaline salts' are often referenced, as the major component of alkaline dishwasher detergent powders.These salts may include:
- alkali metasilicates
- alkali metal hydroxides
- Sodium carbonateSodium carbonateSodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
Examples of other strongly alkaline salts, include:
- Sodium percarbonateSodium percarbonateSodium percarbonate is a chemical, an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide , with formula Na2CO3 · 1.5H2O2. It is a colorless, crystalline, hygroscopic and water-soluble solid...
- Sodium persilicate (?)
- Potassium metabisulphite