Solubility Rules
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Solubility rules
Ionic compounds are generally more soluble in water than covalent substances, but the pattern has firm exceptions worth memorising. Every common salt of sodium, potassium and ammonium dissolves, and so do all nitrates. Beyond those families, most chlorides and sulfates dissolve while most carbonates and hydroxides do not, and knowing which is which tells you the right way to make any required salt.
What you know already
From Ionic Bonding you know that ionic compounds are built from charged particles held in a lattice. Whether such a compound dissolves in water decides how its salts can be prepared in the laboratory. This note sets out the solubility rules of record, the famous exceptions, and why limewater matters.
Key points of understanding
- All common sodium, potassium and ammonium salts are soluble.
- Every nitrate dissolves in water.
- Most chlorides and sulfates are soluble in water.
- Most carbonates and hydroxides are insoluble.
- Solubility knowledge decides the most appropriate method for preparing a salt.
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1.Solubility rules
Ionic compounds are generally more soluble in water than covalent substances, but the pattern has firm exceptions worth memorising. Every common salt of sodium, potassium and ammonium dissolves, and so do all nitrates. Beyond those families, most chlorides and sulfates dissolve while most carbonates and hydroxides do not, and knowing which is which tells you the right way to make any required salt.
Key points
- All common sodium, potassium and ammonium salts are soluble.
- Every nitrate dissolves in water.
- Most chlorides and sulfates are soluble in water.
- Most carbonates and hydroxides are insoluble.
- Solubility knowledge decides the most appropriate method for preparing a salt.
Guided content from the SME authoring corpus — note rn_p2FmkrXqZSzFngpg, pinned at 286b5ac81d43 · promoted SyllabAI/syllabai-resources e967e75f1339