Lesson Element

Making Salts
Instructions and answers for teachers

These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 9. This Lesson
Element supports OCR GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science Chemistry A and the Twenty First Century
Science Chemistry B qualifications.

When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a Word
file you will need to remove the teacher instructions section.

Mapping to specification level (Learning outcomes)

GCSE (9–1) Gateway Science Chemistry A/Combined Science A

C3.3c recall that acids form hydrogen ions when they dissolve in water and solutions of alkalis
contain hydroxide ions

C3.3d describe neutralisation as acid reacting with alkali or a base to form a salt plus water

C3.3e recognise that aqueous neutralisation reactions can be generalised to hydrogen ions
reacting with hydroxide ions to form water

C3.3f recall that carbonates and some metals react with acids and write balanced equations
predicting products from given reactants

GCSE (9–1) Twenty First Century Science Chemistry B/Combined Science B

C6.1.1 recall that acids react with some metals and with carbonates and write equations predicting
products from given reactants

C6.1.2 describe practical procedures to make salts to include appropriate use of filtration,
evaporation, crystallisation and drying

C6.1.3 use the formulae of common ions to deduce the formula of a compound

This activity offers an

Version 1 1 © OCR 2017
opportunity for English
skills development.
Introduction
This group of activities can be used to aid the delivery of the topic of salts. There are practical
activities that can be undertaken to teach salts but learners often find writing the associated
equations very difficult. They will need to have prior knowledge of chemical names and how to
write chemical formulae alongside an understanding of ionic bonding will aid writing equations
correctly.

Learners find the skill and understanding behind balancing equations difficult. They often confuse
the reactants and products of the different types of salt reactions.

Notes for teachers

Activity 1: Salts Card Sort

Apparatus: Salts Card Sort Sheet

This activity is a card sort to aid kinaesthetic learning or can be used a consolidation activity. The
three sheets need to be printed in three different colours. Learners are to organise the first set of
cards to show the general equations for making salts plus an example of each.

Suggested Answers:

Metal + acid  salt + hydrogen

Magnesium + sulfuric acid  magnesium sulfate + hydrogen

Metal oxide + acid  salt + water

Magnesium oxide + Hydrochloric acid  magnesium chloride + water

Metal hydroxide + acid  salt + water

Magnesium hydroxide + nitric acid  magnesium nitrate + water

Metal carbonate + acid  salt + water + carbon dioxide

Magnesium carbonate + hydrochloric acid  magnesium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

Learners now need to organise the second set of cards to show other examples of reactions that
make salts. Then they need to organise the third set of cards underneath each reaction placed on
the table from set 2. These give the chemical formula of the reactions made from the second set of
cards.

Version 1 2 © OCR 2017

Suggested Answers:

copper (II) oxide + hydrochloric acid  copper chloride + water

CuO 2HCl CuCl2 H2O

iron oxide + nitric acid  iron nitrate + water

Fe2O3 6HNO3 2Fe(NO3)3 3H2O

potassium hydroxide + sulfuric acid  potassium sulfate + water

2KOH H2SO4 K2SO4 2H2O

sodium carbonate + hydrochloric acid  sodium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

Na2CO3 2HCl NaCl H2O CO2

calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid  calcium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

CaCO3 2HCl CaCl2 H2O CO2

aluminium + sulfuric acid  aluminium sulfate + hydrogen

2Al 3H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 3H2

zinc + sulfuric acid  zinc sulfate + hydrogen

Zn H2SO4 ZnSO4 H2

sodium hydroxide + nitric acid  sodium nitrate + water

NaOH HNO3 NaNO3 H2O

Extension idea: Learners may also be stretched further by being asked to balance the equations
by writing numbers on the third set of cards.

Version 1 3 © OCR 2017

Activity 2: Name that salt!
Apparatus: Learner Activity Sheet 1 – Name that salt!

Learners complete the worksheet, explaining how they have named the missing substance. You
may want to write an example on the board and discuss the reasons as a class first, depending on
the ability of the class.

Suggested answers:

Suggested explanations are provided here, however depending upon the ability of the learners and
the depth to which ideas about reactions have been studied, teachers may want to add to/reduce
the explanations.

1. hydrochloric acid + calcium hydroxide → calcium chloride + water

In this type of reaction a salt is formed from an acid and an alkali.

As the reacting alkali is calcium hydroxide, then the product will be a calcium salt.
As the reacting acid is hydrochloric acid, then the salt produced will be a chloride.

2. sodium + sulfuric acid → sodium sulfate + hydrogen

In this type of reaction an acid reacts with a metal to produce a salt and hydrogen.
As the salt produced is a sulfate, the reacting acid must be sulfuric acid,

3. nitric acid + zinc carbonate → zinc nitrate + water + carbon dioxide

In this type of reaction an acid reacts with a carbonate to give a salt, water and carbon dioxide.
As the reacting alkali is zinc carbonate, the product will be a zinc salt.
As the acid used is nitric acid, the salt produced will be a nitrate.

4. sulfuric acid + aluminium oxide → aluminium sulfate + water

In this type of reaction a salt is formed from an acid and an alkali.

As the reacting alkali is aluminium oxide, then the product will be a aluminium salt.
As the reacting acid is sulfuric acid, then the salt produced will be a sulfate.

Version 1 4 © OCR 2017

Complete the Following Equations:

1. lead oxide + hydrochloric acid  lead chloride + water

2. Sodium carbonate + nitric acid  sodium nitrate + water + carbon dioxide
3. calcium + sulfuric acid  calcium sulfate + hydrogen
4. copper hydroxide + nitric acid  copper nitrate + water
5. lithium carbonate + sulfuric acid  lithium sufate + water + carbon dioxide
6. tin + nitric acid  tin nitrate + hydrogen
7. CuO + H2SO4  CuSO4 + H2O
8. ZnCO3 + 2HNO3  Zn(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2
9. NaOH + HCl  NaCl + H2O
10. 2K + H2SO4  K2SO4 + H2

Extension Task

Complete and balance the following equations:

1. 2Na + 2HCl  2NaCl + H2

2. 2Al + 3H2SO4  Al2(SO4)3 + 3H2
3. ZnO + 2HNO3  Zn(NO3)2 + H2O
4. Al2O3 + 6HCl  2AlCl3 + 3H2O
5. NH4OH + HNO3  NH4NO3 + H2O
6. LiOH + HCl  LiCl + H2O
7. K2CO3 + 2HCl  2KCl + CO2 + H2O
8. Al2(CO3)3 + 6HNO3  2Al(NO3)3 + 3CO2 + 3H2O

Activity 3: Mindmap
Apparatus: Learner Activity Sheet 2 – Mind map

This is a salts mind map that could be used by learners as a consolidation activity or to underpin
research.

Version 1 5 © OCR 2017

 Learner Task Sheet 2 – Suggested answers
pH 7 pH 8 to 14

pH 1 to 6
OH- ions
Salt + water
H+ ions produces eg.
Acids dissolve in water to All alkalis contain..
form. NEUTRALISATION
eg sodium hydroxide
ACIDS ALKALIS/BASES
hydrochloric Acid

H+ + OH H2O
Salts made from: chloride
The first part of the name comes from the
Hydrochloric acid end in
metal in the metal oxide, sulfate
naming SALTS Sulfuric acid end in
hydroxide or carbonate (alkali). The second part of
nitrate
the name comes from the acid used. Nitric acid end in
Can be made by reacting:

METAL SALT + HYDROGEN

METAL + ACID SALT+ HYDROGEN METAL HYDROXIDE/OXIDE
WATER
+ ACID SALT +

eg zinc Zn + hydrochloric zinc + hydrogen eg calcium carbonate calcium + water +

acid 2HCl chloride ZnCl eg copper oxide CuO + copper sulfate CaCO3 + nitric acid carbon nitrate
sulfuric acid H2SO4 CuSO4 +water H2O HNO3
A lit wooden
potassium hydroxide KOH potassium
test Turns limewater cloudy/milky test
spill/splint goes pop + hydrochloric acid HCl chloride KCl + water

Version 1 6 © OCR 2017

Activity 4: SPLAT!
Apparatus: SPLAT! PowerPoint, SPLAT! Answer Sheet

Learners need to work in pairs during this consolidation activity. Each slide contains a number of
formulae with different parts missing that will appear one at a time. Learners are to have 2 different
coloured pens and compete with one another to circle the missing chemical. You can ask learners
to volunteer ideas for the answer.

Supporting Information
The key areas to focus on when writing equations for making salts are:

1. Linking the name of the metal (in the oxide, hydroxide or carbonate) with the first part of the
name of the salt. e.g. calcium carbonate  calcium salt.

2. Linking the second part of the name of the salt to the acid used.
hydrochloric acid  chloride
sulfuric acid  sulphate
nitric acid  nitrate

(A simple way of introducing this to lower ability learners is to draw three columns on the board and
write ‘hydrochloric acid’, sulfuric acid’ and ‘nitric’ acid at the top of each column respectively. Give
learners pieces of card with the name of a salt written on. Ask learners to look at the name written
on their card and the three acids on the board and try to work out if they can see a link between
their card and one of the acids. The learners then blu-tac the cards in the relevant columns. This
can then be used by the teacher to explain how a salt is formed and named).

3. Learners may also get the other products of the reaction mixed up:
metal + acid  salt + hydrogen
metal oxide/hydroxide + acid  salt + water
metal carbonate + acid  salt + water + carbon dioxide

4. A salt is formed when the hydrogen of an acid is replaced by a metal (the hydrogen is
displaced by the metal).

Version 1 7 © OCR 2017

 Supporting information

Useful websites to aid teaching ‘making salts’ are:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/chemical_material_behaviour/acids_bases_metals/revisi
on/7/

(this is useful for lower ability learners)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_21c/chemical_synthesis/whychemical
srev6.shtml

We’d like to know your view on the resources we produce. By clicking on ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ you can help us to ensure that our resources
work for you. When the email template pops up please add additional comments if you wish and then just click ‘Send’. Thank you.
Whether you already offer OCR qualifications, are new to OCR, or are considering switching from your current provider/awarding
organisation, you can request more information by completing the Expression of Interest form which can be found here:
www.ocr.org.uk/expression-of-interest
Looking for a resource? There is now a quick and easy search tool to help find free resources for your qualification:
www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/find-resources/

OCR Resources: the small print

OCR’s resources are provided to support the delivery of OCR qualifications, but in no way constitute an endorsed teaching method that is required by the Board, and the
decision to use them lies with the individual teacher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content, OCR cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions
within these resources.
© OCR 2017 – This resource may be freely copied and distributed, as long as the OCR logo and this message remain intact and OCR is acknowledged as the originator of this work.
OCR acknowledges the use of the following content: Earthquake damage: Baloncici/Shutterstock.com
Please get in touch if you want to discuss the accessibility of resources we offer to support delivery of our qualifications: [email protected]

Version 1 8 © OCR 2017

Lesson Element

Making Salts
Learner Activity
Name That Salt!
Look at the word equations below. In each case complete the word equation by adding the name
of the missing substance. (Explain your answers.)

1. hydrochloric acid + calcium hydroxide  + water

Reason for answer:

2. sodium +  sodium sulfate + hydrogen

Reason for answer:

3. nitric acid + zinc carbonate  + water + carbon dioxide

Reason for answer:

Version 1 9 © OCR 2017

4. sulfuric acid + aluminium oxide  + water

Reason for answer:

Complete the following equations:

1. lead oxide + hydrochloric acid  + water

2. sodium carbonate +  sodium nitrate + water +

3. + sulfuric acid  calcium sulfate +

4. copper hydroxide + nitric acid  + hydrogen

5. +  lithium sulfate + water + carbon dioxide

6. +  tin nitrate + hydrogen

7. CuO +  CuSO4 +

8. + 2HNO3  Zn(NO3)2 + + CO2

9. NaOH + HCl  +

10. +  K2SO4 + H2

Version 1 10 © OCR 2017

Extension Task

Complete and balance the following equations:

1. Na + HCl  +

2. Al + H2SO4  Al2(SO4)3 +

3. ZnO +  Zn(NO3)2 + H2O

4. + HCl  AlCl3 + H20

5. NH4OH +  NH4NO3 +

6. LiOH + HCl  +

7. K2CO3 + HCl  + +

8. Al2(CO3)3 +  Al(NO3)3 + +

Version 1 11 © OCR 2017

Making Salts – Card Sort Set 1
Cut out and use these cards for part 1 of the card sort exercise.

METAL
METAL ACID METAL OXIDE
HYDROXIDE

METAL
ACID ACID ACID
CARBONATE

HYDROGEN WATER WATER WATER

CARBON
SALT SALT SALT
DIOXIDE

SALT + + +
+ + + +
+ +
WATER WATER

CARBON
WATER HYDROGEN MAGNESIUM
DIOXIDE

MAGNESIUM MAGNESIUM MAGNESIUM

SULFURIC ACID
OXIDE CHLORIDE CARBONATE

MAGNESIUM HYDROCHLORIC MAGNESIUM

NITRIC ACID
SULFATE ACID NITRATE

Version 1 12 © OCR 2017

 MAGNESIUM HYDROCHLORIC MAGNESIUM
HYDROXIDE ACID CHLORIDE

Making Salts – Card Sort Set 2

Cut out and use these cards for part 2 of the card sort exercise.

COPPER (II) HYDROCHLORIC

IRON NITRATE WATER
OXIDE ACID

SULFURIC CALCIUM
SULFURIC ACID WATER
ACID CARBONATE

COPPER
WATER WATER NITRIC ACID
CHLORIDE

POTASSIUM SULFURIC HYDROCHLORIC ALUMINIUM

HYDROXIDE ACID ACID SULFATE

SODIUM SODIUM POTASSIUM

HYDROGEN
CARBONATE NITRATE SULFATE

SODIUM CARBON CARBON

ALUMINIUM
HYDROXIDE DIOXIDE DIOXIDE

HYDROCHLORIC
ZINC IRON OXIDE WATER
ACID

SODIUM
WATER HYDROGEN NITRIC ACID
CHLORIDE

ZINC CALCIUM
SULFATE CHLORIDE + +
+ + + +

Version 1 13 © OCR 2017

Making Salts – Card Sort Set 3
Cut out and use these cards for part 3 of the card sort exercise.

H2O H2O H2O H2O

H2O H2O CO2 CO2

H2 H2 HNO3 HNO3

H2SO4 H2SO4 H2SO4 HCl

HCl HCl CuO Fe2O3

KOH Na2CO3 CaCO3 Al

Zn NaOH NaNO3 ZnSO4

Al2(SO4)3 CaCl2 NaCl K2SO4

Fe(NO3)3 CuCl2 + +

+ +

+ +

Version 1 14 © OCR 2017

 H2O H2O H2O H2O

Version 1 15 © OCR 2017

 Learner Task Sheet 2 – Salt mind map
pH pH to

pH to
ions
Salt +
ions produces eg.
Acids dissolve in water to All alkalis contain..
form. NEUTRALISATION
eg ACIDS ALKALIS/BASES

H+ + OH
Salts made from:
The first part of the name comes from the
Hydrochloric acid end in
in the oxide,
naming SALTS Sulfuric acid end in
hydroxide or carbonate (alkali). The second part of
the name comes from the used. Nitric acid end in
Can be made by reacting:

METAL + ACID SALT+ SALT +

METAL HYDROXIDE/OXIDE
+ ACID SALT +

eg zinc Zn + hydrochloric eg calcium carbonate

acid 2HCl eg copper oxide CuO + CaCO3 + nitric acid
sulfuric acid H2SO4
HNO3
A lit wooden
potassium hydroxide KOH
test Turns limewater test
goes + Hydrochloric acid HCl

Version 1 16 © OCR 2017

Splat! Answer sheet

Use one answer sheet between 2 players. Each player should have a different colour pen. Try to
be the first one to circle the correct missing compound for each equation you are shown.

potassium
2HNO3 sulfate
water

copper H2SO4
chloride
H2 aluminium

2HCl magnesium
nitrate
nitric NaCl
acid

CO2 carbon
CaCO3 dioxide

Version 1 17 © OCR 2017