Soluble salt or insoluble salt? That is the question!

First up you need to find out if the salt you are trying to prepare is soluble or insoluble.

If it is insoluble there is one very easy method.

If it is a soluble salt, there are two methods you can try.

Method A is great if there is a suitable metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide or metal carbonate that is insoluble in water. This can be added to an acid and then, when you are sure you have added excess of the reagent, you can filter off the spare to leave a pure solution of your salt.

Method B is needed for other soluble salts. You need to measure out the right quantities of acid and alkali (use an indicator first time to find out how much to use but not in the final preparation of the salt).

Finall, no matter which method you have selected, you need to present the salt as a clean, pure solid (hopefully as crystals!).