Solubility Song

(Sing to Rhythm of 99 Bottles)

Alkali metals and ammonium salts,
Whatever they may be,
Can always be depended on for solubility

When asked about the nitrates
The answer is always clear,
They each and all are soluble,
Is all we want to hear.

Most every chloride's soluble
At least we've always read
Save silver, mercury one
And chloride of lead

Every single sulfate
Is soluble, 'Tis said
'Cept barium, strontium, mercury one
And calcium and lead.

Hydroxides in general
don't dissolve at all
But, barium, strontium and calcium
Are slightly soluble

*but don't forget *

Alkali metals and ammonium salts
Whatever they may be
Can always be depended on
For solubility

The carbonates are insoluble,
It's lucky that it is so,
Or else, our marble buildings
Would melt away like snow.

*but, once again, don't forget *

Alkali metals and ammonium salts
Whatever they may be
Can always be depended on
For solubility

Sylvia L. Cooper
Advanced Placement Chemistry Teacher (retired 6/2005)
Morgantown High School
Morgantown, WV 26501

Poem That Makes Sense After Studying Predicting Reactions:
Johnny finding life a bore, drank some H2SO4.
Johnny's father, an M.D., gave him CaCO3.
Johnny's neutralized, it's true,
But now he's full of CO2.