Acids are neutralised by alkalis (eg soluble metal hydroxides) and bases (eg insoluble metal hydroxides and metal oxides) to produce salts and water, and by metal carbonates to produce salts, water and carbon dioxide. The particular salt produced in any reaction between an acid and a base or alkali depends on: • the acid used (hydrochloric acid produces chlorides, nitric acid produces nitrates, sulfuric acid produces sulfates) • the positive ions in the base, alkali or carbonate. • Students should be able to: • predict products from given reactants • use the formulae of common ions to deduce the formulae of salts.