basic salt
C2Technical/Scientific
Definition
Meaning
A chemical compound formed when a base reacts with an acid, but not all hydrogen atoms of the acid are replaced by metal ions or cations.
In chemistry, a salt that contains hydroxide (OH⁻) or oxide (O²⁻) ions in addition to the anion from the acid, resulting from the partial neutralization of a polyprotic acid or from a base with multiple hydroxide groups. It is the opposite of an acid salt.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is highly specific to inorganic and analytical chemistry. It is not used in everyday language. 'Basic' here refers to the presence of basic anions (OH⁻, O²⁻), not to something being fundamental or simple.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of related terms follows regional conventions (e.g., BrE 'sulphate' vs. AmE 'sulfate').
Connotations
Purely technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora, occurring almost exclusively in chemistry textbooks and research papers. Frequency is identical across varieties within the technical domain.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
basic salt of [metal]basic salt containing [anion]basic salt with the formula [formula]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in chemistry lectures, lab reports, and research papers discussing precipitation reactions, corrosion products, or mineralogy.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in chemistry for describing salts like basic zinc chloride (Zn(OH)Cl) or basic copper carbonate (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The basic salt precipitate was filtered and dried.
- They identified a basic salt compound in the patina.
American English
- The basic salt formation was unexpected.
- Basic salt structures are common in mineralogy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The green colour of the statue is due to a basic salt called basic copper carbonate.
- Some basic salts are less soluble in water than their normal salt counterparts.
- Upon partial hydrolysis, the metal chloride formed a basic salt with the formula M(OH)Cl.
- The corrosion product was analysed and found to be a complex basic salt containing both nitrate and hydroxide ions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a salt that still has some 'base' left in it (OH⁻ ions), so it's BASIC salt.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PARTIALLY NEUTRALIZED entity (the base did not fully react with the acid).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'базовая соль' in the sense of 'fundamental'. The correct term is 'основная соль'.
- Avoid confusing with 'simple salt' ('простая соль'), which is a 'normal salt'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'basic salt' to mean a simple or fundamental salt (a 'normal salt').
- Confusing it with 'base' or 'alkali'. A basic salt is a specific type of salt, not a base itself.
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of a basic salt?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A base (like NaOH) is a substance that can accept protons. A basic salt is a specific ionic compound that is the result of an incomplete neutralization reaction and contains basic anions alongside another anion.
Yes. Basic copper carbonate, Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃, which forms the green patina on copper statues and roofs, is a classic example.
The opposite is an 'acid salt', which forms when an acid is partially neutralized and still contains replaceable hydrogen atoms (e.g., sodium hydrogen sulfate, NaHSO₄).
No. Table salt is a 'normal salt' or 'neutral salt'. It is the product of complete neutralization of a strong acid (HCl) by a strong base (NaOH) and contains no extra H⁺ or OH⁻ ions.