Solubility Rules for Salts in Aqueous Solutions

Vocabulary flashcards covering the general solubility rules for aqueous salts, including common soluble ions, insoluble ions, and their specific exceptions.

Alkali Metal and Ammonium Salts

Soluble salts containing alkali metal ions ($Li^{+1}$, $Na^{+1}$, $K^{+1}$, $Rb^{+1}$, $Cs^{+1}$) or ammonium ($NH_4^{+1}$).

Nitrate and Acetate Salts

Soluble salts containing nitrate ($NO_3^{-1}$) or acetate ($C_2H_3O_2^{-1}$).

Halide Salts

Most salts containing halides ($Cl^{-1}$, $Br^{-1}$, $I^{-1}$, but NOT $F^{-1}$) are soluble, EXCEPT when combined with $Ag^{+1}$, $Pb^{+2}$, or $Hg_2^{+2}$.

Halide Solubility Exceptions

The specific cations that form insoluble halide salts: $Ag^{+1}$, $Pb^{+2}$, and $Hg_2^{+2}$.

Sulfate Salts ($SO_4^{-2}$)

Most salts containing sulfate ($SO_4^{-2}$) are soluble, EXCEPT with $Ag^{+1}$, $Pb^{+2}$, $Hg_2^{+2}$, $Ca^{+2}$, $Sr^{+2}$, and $Ba^{+2}$.

Sulfate Solubility Exceptions

The specific cations that form insoluble sulfate salts: $Ag^{+1}$, $Pb^{+2}$, $Hg_2^{+2}$, $Ca^{+2}$, $Sr^{+2}$, and $Ba^{+2}$.

Generally Insoluble Salts (Rule 5)

Salts containing carbonate ($CO_3^{-2}$), chromate ($CrO_4^{-2}$), hydroxide ($OH^{-1}$), oxide ($O^{-2}$), phosphate ($PO_4^{-3}$), and sulfide ($S^{-2}$), EXCEPT those containing Rule 1 cations.

Hydroxide ($OH^{-1}$) Solubility Exceptions

Hydroxide salts are insoluble, EXCEPT when paired with Rule 1 cations or with $Ca^{+2}$, $Sr^{+2}$, and $Ba^{+2}$.