First use a Litmus Test

If Litmus returns Red/Orange:
You have an Acidic Salt formed from a Strong Acid & Weak Base

If Litmus returns Green (Neutral):
You have a Neutral Salt formed from a Strong Acid & Strong Base

If Litmus returns Blue/Purple:
You have a Basic or Alkaline Salt formed from a Weak Acid & Strong Base

STRONG ACID: NO OH GROUPED TOGETHER AND AT LEAST 2 OR MORE O THEN H

STRONG BASE: NO C OR N
Find The Metal Cation (Base)

If the Salt was formed from a Strong Base:
The Metal Cation must be in Group 1 or Group 2, use the solubility table to narrow it down
Some tips:
- Use Sodium Carbonate, if G1, nothing will happen, if G2, a precipitate will form
- If G1 and between Sodium & Potassium, Flame Test Required (Info will be provided)
- If G2, Sodium Hydroxide will determine which metal

If the Salt was formed from a Weak Base:
The Metal Cation must be a Transition Metal, which can be determined with the solubility table to narrow it down (and potentially other properties such as colours and variable solubility)

Find the Anion (Acid)

If the Salt was formed from a Strong Acid:
Recall the Strong Acids (HCl, HI, HNO₃, HClO₄, H₂SO₄, HBr), remove the ones that would be impossible (based on solubility), and continue narrowing it down with solubility and colours

Silver Nitrate is great to test for this!
(Silver Chloride would form a White Precipitate)
(Silver Bromide would form a Cream Precipitate)
(Silver Iodide would form a Yellow Precipitate)

If the Salt was formed from a Weak Acid:
Recall the Strong Acids (HCl, HI, HNO₃, HClO₄, H₂SO₄, HBr), and remove them, they are not in the realm of possibility. Determine which anion was part of the weak acid by narrowing down more impossible ones using solubility and colours

Additional Tips

MEMORISE THE COLOURS OF PRECIPITATES (Precipitate Colour Flashcards found in this folder)

Anything that isn’t a strong acid or base is a weak acid or base

Strong bases are comprised of a Group 1 or Group 2 Metal + OH

If a substance does not dissolve completely (milky or granular precipitate), it is slightly soluble

If a substance forms a precipitate, but dissolves in excess, it is an amphoteric/amphiprotic substance (Can act as both a weak acid & weak base) This is indicative of a transition metal