Preparation of a Soluble Salt from an Insoluble Base

Introduction Procedure Procedure

A soluble salt can be prepared by reacting an acid with a
suitable insoluble base. This may include metals, metal Making a Neutral Solution Forming the Crystals
oxides, metal hydroxides, and carbonates. This method Measure out 50 cm of dilute sulfuric acid using
² Turn off the Bunsen burner to
would only work with insoluble bases, as it involves a measuring cylinder into a beaker. allow the filtrate to cool slowly.
filtration. For the sake of this experiment, we are going to use Using a spatula, slowly pour the powered Using tongs, transfer the
the reagents copper (II) oxide and sulfuric acid; although copper (II) oxide into the beaker while mixing evaporating basin to a cool place.
different bases and acids may be chosen. the solution with a glass rod. When blue crystals of copper (II)
When no more solute is dissolved in the solvent sulfate start to form, carefully pour
after mixing, the base is in excess, and all acid off the remaining solution, and dry
has reacted. We added an excess in base as we the crystals by blotting them with a
Safety Precautions
want to make sure the solution is completely paper towel.
• Googles should be worn in case of acid spillage.
neutral (pH 7).
• Gloves may be worn in case of a strong acid or base, and Chemical Equations
any spillage should be handled with care.
• The Bunsen burner may be very hot, and should not be Filtering and Heating the Solution
touched until cool. Fold the filter paper into a funnel, and Reaction
slowly pour the neutral solution from the funnel CuO(s) + H₂SO₄(aq) → CuSO₄(aq) + H₂O(l)
Equipment into an evaporating basin. This is to rid the
• 50 cm² of dilute sulfuric acid
residue, to make a pure salt and allow crystals Water of Crystallization
• copper (II) oxide (powdered)
to form. CuSO₄(aq) + xH₂O(l) → CuSO₄.xH₂O(s)
• measuring cylinder Now, set up the equipment as seen in
Figure 1 and heat the filtrate gently. This is to Figure 1:
• beaker
the set-up required for heating the
boil off some of the water and concentrate the
• tripod
solution. filtrate (diagram drawn with
• gauze
Keep heating until a saturated solution is chemix.com)
• Bunsen burner formed. This can be tested by the formation of
• glass rod crystals on a glass rod when dipped into a
solution, or when small crystals start appearing
• funnel
at the edge of the basin.
• filter paper
We do not want to completely heat the solution
• evaporating basin
to dryness, as this would result in anhydrous
• tongs powder. Instead, we want the copper sulfate salt
• spatula to form crystals, which traps water and is
therefore hydrated. This is called the water of
• heat-proof mat
crystallization.