How are salts of oxyacids formed?

Salts of oxyacids are primarily formed through a process called neutralization, in which an acid reacts with a base to produce a salt and water:

acid + base → salt + water1

Beyond simple neutralization, these salts can be prepared through several other chemical methods, particularly for specific compounds like sulfates:

• Metathesis reactions: Compounds exchange anion-cation partners, often resulting in the precipitation of an insoluble salt.2
• Dissolution: Metals can be dissolved directly in an aqueous oxyacid.2
• Reaction with oxides or hydroxides: Neutralizing an aqueous oxyacid with metal oxides or hydroxides.2
• Oxidation: The oxidation of metal sulfides or sulfites.2
• Decomposition: Using an aqueous oxyacid to decompose salts of volatile acids, such as carbonates.2

When naming these salts, the cation is identified first, followed by the anion, with the acid's suffix typically changed to "-ate".3