types of salts

Salts are chemical compounds(ionic) that are composed of positive and negative ions. Salt is a result of the reaction between an acid and a base. The positive ion comes from a base while the negative Ion comes from an acid. For example in our common salt NaCl, the Na+ ion is derived from NaOH(base) and the negative ion(Cl-) is derived from HCl(acid). Salts can be derived from seawater or from rock deposits. In this article, we discuss the 7 types of salts based on different classifications with some examples.

Types of salt

  1. Simple salts
  2. Acidic salts
  3. Basic salts
  4. Neutral salts
  5. Double salts
  6. Complex salts
  7. Mixed salts

The salts can be classified into the following types:

Simple salts

Simple salts are formed by a simple interaction between an acid and a base. The most common example of simple salt is NaCl which is derived from HCl(acid) and NaOH(base). Based on the precursor for the salts, simple salts can be further classified into three types of salts: acidic salts, basic salts, and neutral/normal salts.

Neutral salts

Neutral salts that are formed do not contain any replaceable protons (hydrogen atoms) or hydroxyl ions. They have a pH of around 7 and do not display any acidic or alkaline character.

Examples of neutral salts

  • Sodium chloride (NaCl)
  • Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
  • Potassium sulfate (K2SO4)
  • Potassium chloride (KCl)
  • Potassium chlorate (KClO3)
  • Calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2)
  • Trisodium orthoborate (Na3BO3)
  • NaH2PO2 (The H2PO2- ion is derived from H3PO2 acid which is monobasic, hence both the H atoms are not replaceable)
  • Potassium Perchlorate (KClO4)

Acid salts

Acidic salts are a result of the reaction between a strong acid and a weak base. So there is an incomplete neutralization of the acids which results in the salts having a pH below 7 and showing acidic properties. These salts contain one or more replaceable hydrogen atoms due to incomplete neutralization. You can read more about acid salts here.

Examples of acid salts

  • Sodium carbonate (NaHCO3)
  • Sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4)
  • Monosodium dihydrogen orthophosphate (NaH2PO4)
  • Disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4)
  • Potassium bisulfite (KHSO4)
  • Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)
  • Ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4)

Basic salts

Basic salts are a result of the reaction between a strong base and a weak acid. So there is an incomplete neutralization of the bases which results in the salts having a pH above 7 and showing alkaline properties. These salts generally contain one or more hydroxyl ions. You can read more about basic salts here.

Examples of basic salts

  • Zinc chloride hydroxide (Zn(OH)Cl)
  • potassium cyanide (KCN)
  • sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  • Magnesium oxychloride (Mg(OH)Cl)
  • Iron(II) hydroxide (Fe(OH)2Cl)
  • Sodium acetate (NaOOCCH3)
  • bismuth oxychloride (Bi(OH)2Cl)

Double salts

Double salts have more than one cation or anion in the composition. It is due to the reaction between two simple salts and the resulting formula is generally very complex. Such salts are generally most stable in their solid form.

Examples of double salt

  • Potassium cerium fluoride (KCeF4)
  • Mohr’s salt ((NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O)
  • Potash alum, (K2SO4Al2(SO4)3.24H2O)
  • Potassium Ytterbium iodide (K4[YbI6])

Mixed salts

Mixed salts consist of two anions sharing a cation or two cations sharing an anion. These salts result from the reaction between more than one acid or base which results in an imbalance in the number of cations or anions.

Examples of Mixed salts

  • Bleaching powder(Ca(ClO)2)
  • Calcium disodium EDTA
  • Sodium potassium sulfate (NaKSO4)

Complex salts

Complex salts are a combination of ions and molecular compounds. It generally has a central metal atom surrounded by neutral molecules and charged ions.

Examples of complex salts

  • Tetra amino cupric sulfate ([Cu(NH3)4]SO4)
  • Potassium ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6])
  • Hexamine chromium(III) chloride [Cr(NH3)6]Cl3]
  • Nickel carbonyl [Ni(CO)4]

What are the different types of edible salt?

The salts that we use in the kitchen can be classified into many different kinds of salts based on minor composition differences and the origin of the salt.

  1. Table salt
  2. Kosher salt
  3. Smoked salt
  4. Pickling salt
  5. Himalayan pink salt
  6. Sea salt
  7. Black salt
Himalayan pink salt
Himalayan pink salt
Image by monicore from Pixabay 

What is cleaning salt?

Cleaning salts are salts used to generally treat hard-water and clean metal surfaces through ion-exchange reactions. The hard water generally contains salts like magnesium and calcium. The cleaning salts undergo a cation exchange reaction to get rid of these cations in the water. These salts are not fit for consumption and are to be used only for cleaning purposes.

washing soda
Washing soda used for cleaning surfaces
Image by Monfocus from Pixabay 

The common salt solution can also be used for simple cleaning purposes. Generally washing soda (sodium carbonate salt) is used for cleaning purposes in our homes.

See Also

Acid, bases and salts
50 uses of acids
20 Uses of Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)
50 uses of bases
100 Examples of acids
10 Types of acids
15 Acids and Bases at home
40 Uses of citric acid
15 Differences between acids and bases
Baking soda vs washing soda