Base salts or Alkali salts are salts which contain a contain a hydroxide ion. Rather than being neutral pH, as normal salts are usually, they are weak bases. The acidic equivalent of a base salt is an acid salt. Where base salts are weak bases, acid salts are weak acids.

Salts are formed in water when acids and bases react. They are usually neutral.

Common Basic Salts

Most basic salts are also alkali salts:

• sodium hydroxide (often called "caustic soda")
• potassium hydroxide (commonly called "potash")
• lye (generic term, for either of the previous two, or even for a mixture)
• calcium carbonate (sometimes called "free lime")

See also

• Alkali

Chemical compounds