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Chemistry · 7.3 Preparation of salts · Paper 5/6 practical

Salt Preparation. Make a crystal.

Three routes to a pure salt: a soluble salt from an insoluble base (excess solid), a soluble salt by titration, and an insoluble salt by precipitation. Step through each method and learn why every stage is needed.

0620 Topic 7.3 — Preparation of salts filter · evaporate · crystallise Paper 5/6 — Practical
Setup — follow the steps to prepare the salt.
Step 1

Target salt

Making
Equation

Procedure checklist

    📋 Why each step matters
    • Choose a method to see the reasoning.
    ⚠ Common errors
    • Insoluble base method: add the base in excess so all the acid reacts; the unreacted excess is then easy to filter off.
    • Heat the filtrate to the point of crystallisation (a saturated solution), not to dryness, or you bake the crystals and they lose shape/water of crystallisation.
    • Titration method: there is no solid to filter, so you must first find the exact volume with an indicator, then repeat without indicator using that volume so the salt is not contaminated.
    • Precipitation: wash the precipitate with distilled water to remove soluble impurities, then dry it.
    🎯 Syllabus reference (0620)
    • 7.3 Preparation of salts — describe the preparation, separation and purification of soluble salts (excess insoluble reactant; titration) and insoluble salts (precipitation); know which salts are soluble/insoluble.

    Ask the lab assistant