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Acids, Bases & Salts

Salt

An ionic compound formed when the hydrogen of an acid is replaced by a metal or other cation.

Formula / equation acid + base → salt + water
Unit Dimensionless

In depth

Salts are crystalline solids with high melting points that conduct electricity when molten or dissolved. Their aqueous solutions are not necessarily neutral: the pH depends on whether the parent acid and base were strong or weak, through the process of hydrolysis.

Examples in the real world

Sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, calcium carbonate and copper(II) nitrate.