Common Salts and Their Chemical Names

Vocabulary flashcards covering common salts, their chemical formulas, and primary uses.

Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO₄·2H₂O)\n\n

Gypsum; used in plaster, cement, and fertilizer.\n\n

Calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO₄·½H₂O)\n\n

Plaster of Paris; produced by heating gypsum; used for casts, plasterwork, and art.\n\n

Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO₄·7H₂O)\n\n

Epsom Salt; employed as a laxative and bath salt.\n\n

Sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O)\n\n

Glauber’s Salt; mild laxative and glass-industry additive.\n\n

Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na₂CO₃·10H₂O)\n\n

Washing Soda; used for water softening and household cleaning.\n\n

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)\n\n

Baking Soda; leavening agent in baking, antacid, and fire-extinguisher component.\n\n

Potassium bitartrate (KHC₄H₄O₆)\n\n

Tartar (Cream of Tartar); by-product of wine making, used in baking and stabilizing egg whites.\n\n

Potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) or potassium hydroxide (KOH)\n\n

Potash; employed in fertilizers and soap making.\n\n

Sodium chloride (NaCl)\n\n

Common Salt; essential dietary salt, seasoning, and preservative.\n\n

Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃)\n\n

Chile Saltpeter; used in fertilizers and explosives.\n\n

Potassium nitrate (KNO₃)\n\n

Saltpeter (Indian); component of explosives and fertilizers.\n\n

Potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate (KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O)\n\n

Alum; used in water purification and as an aftershave astringent.\n\n

Ferrous ammonium sulfate hexahydrate ((NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6H₂O)\n\n

Mohr’s Salt; standard Fe^{2+} source in laboratory titrations.\n\n

Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O)\n\n

Blue Vitriol; fungicide and electroplating chemical.\n\n

Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄·7H₂O)\n\n

Green Vitriol; iron supplement and dyeing mordant.\n\n

Zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O)\n\n

White Vitriol; medicinal uses and electroplating.\n\n

Cobalt(II) sulfate (CoSO₄)\n\n

Red Vitriol; less common vitriol salt.\n\n

Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O)\n\n

Borax; cleaning agent, glass manufacture, and metallurgy flux.\n\n