Hydrolysis of Salts
Examine the acidity and basicity of various main group and transition metal salts
Chemicals and Equipment Needed

Hydrolysis of Salts kit (2 boxes) – O2
o Box 1- Salts: NaF, NaCl, Na2CO3, NaHSO4, NaNO2, NH4NO3, (NH4)2CO3, NH4CH3COO, AlCl3
o Box 2- Metals: Fe(NO3)3, Al2(SO4)3, Pb(NO3)2, Zn(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2, NaNO3, KNO3, AgNO3,

~1.5 L Yamada Universal Indicator – Z/N2

Dropper bottle of 0.1 M HCl – K2/Z

Dropper bottle of 0.1 M NaOH – S1/Z

11-14 300 mL beakers – Q2

11-14 plastic petri dishes – P3

8-10 scoopulas/microspatulas – U1

8-10 glass stirring rods – U1

Light box – A4
Preparation

Instructors generally order the two parts (salts and metal nitrates) for two different class days.

Yamada solution: 45 mL Yamada stock solution in 1.5 L d-H2O, adjust color to pure green

Get a list of specific compounds desired from the lecturer. Get one beaker per compound, with three
extra.
o Usual salts given: NH4NO3, NaF, NaCl, Na2CO3, Fe(NO3)3, NaHSO4
o Usual metals given: Pb(NO3)2, Zn(NO3)2, AgNO3, Cu(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)

Fill each beaker with ~150 mL Yamada. Add drops of 0.1 M HCl to one beaker for an acid reference
(orange), and 0.1 M NaOH to another beaker for a base reference (blue). Keep one beaker green for
the neutral reference. Lid and label.

On delivery: arrange the beakers in front of the light box, with the acid reference at one end and the
base reference at the other. Set the vials of compound, stirring rods, and spatulas on top of the box.
o They may not all fit, and the lecturer may want to do the demo in two phases, one for the salts,
one for the metals.
Presentation

Place a scoop of each compound in the beaker and stir. Note differences in acidity and alkalinity of the
salts and metals.
Clean-Up

All salt solutions can go down the drain. The metal nitrate solutions should go into the white waste
container.
NOTES: Some lecturers prefer to leave the light box on the cart. In this case, you can plug the box into the
power strip on the overhead cart.
Revised Spring 2015
AMM
Acidic
Basic
Neutral
NaHSO4
NH4NO3
AlCl3
NH4CH3COO
NaF
Na2CO3
NaNO2
NaCl
(NH4)2CO3
Acidic
Neutral
Fe(NO3)3
Al2(SO4)3
Pb(NO3)2
NaNO3
KNO3
Ca(NO3)2
Zn(NO3)2
AgNO3
Revised Spring 2015
AMM