| a salt that crystallizes as a single substance but ionizes as two distinct salts when dissolved, as carnallite, KMgCl3·6H2O. |
| double salt n. A salt, such as alum, that ionizes in solution as if it were two separate salts but forms a single substance upon crystallization. |
| double salt
A salt that crystallizes from an aqueous solution of a mixture of two different ions. The mineral dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), for example, is a double salt that crystallizes from a solution containing both calcium and magnesium ions. Double salts exist only as solids. Compare complex salt, simple salt. |