Solubility Rules


Anion
Soluble
Insoluble*
Nitrates (NO3-),
Acetates (CH3COO-)
All common cations No common cations
Chlorides (Cl-)
Most common cations AgCl, HgCl2.
PbCl2 is borderline.
Bromides (Br-)
Most common cations AgBr, HgBr2, PbBr2.
Iodides (I-)
Most common cations AgI, HgI2, PbI2
Sulfates (SO42-)
Most common cations SrSO4, BaSO4, SnSO4, PbSO4, Ag2SO4.
CaSO4 is borderline.
Hydroxides (OH-)
NaOH, KOH, LiOH, NH4OH, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2
Ca(OH)2 is borderline.
Most common cations
Sulfides (S2-)
Na2S, K2S, Li2S, (NH4)2S, MgS, CaS, BaS, SrS Most common cations
Carbonates (CO32-)
Na2CO3, K2CO3, Li2CO3, (NH4)2CO3 Most common cations
Phosphates (PO42-)
Na3PO4, K3PO4, Li3PO4, (NH4)3PO4 Most common cations
Sulfites (SO32-)
Na2SO3, K2SO3, Li2SO3 Most common cations

*Insoluble for our purposes means mixing equal volumes of 0.1M solutions produces a precipitate. This is not meant to imply an all or nothing situation, as noted by the borderline comments. Substances so indicated change columns with a slight change in concentration. Other solubility tables may use the more accurate but less distinct slightly soluble or sparingly soluble rather than insoluble to suggest the same idea.