1 All compounds containing alkali metal cations and the ammonium ion are soluble.
2 All compounds containing NO3-, ClO4-, ClO3-, and C2H3O2- anions are soluble.
3 All chlorides, bromides, and iodides are soluble except those containing Ag+, Pb2+, or Hg22+.
4 All sulfates are soluble except those containing Hg22+, Pb2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, or Ba2+.
5 All hydroxides are insoluble except compounds of the alkali metals, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+.
6 All compounds containing PO43-, S2-, CO32-, and SO32- ions are insoluble except those that also contain alkali metals or NH4+.


General Rules:

The dividing line between soluble and insoluble is 0.1-molar at 25 °C.

Any substance that can form 0.1 M or more concentrated is soluble. Any substance that fails to reach 0.1 M is defined to be insoluble.

This value was picked with a purpose. VERY FEW substances have their maximum solubility near to 0.1 M. Almost every substance of any importance in chemistry is either much MORE soluble or much LESS soluble.

In the past, some teachers would have a third category: slightly soluble. For the most part, that category has been cast aside.

Solubility rules that apply to water solution:

(1) All alkali metal (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium) and ammonium compounds are soluble.
(2) All acetate, perchlorate, chlorate, and nitrate compounds are soluble.
(3) Silver, lead, and mercury(I) compounds are insoluble.
(4) Chlorides, bromides, and iodides are soluble
(5) Carbonates, hydroxides, oxides, phosphates, silicates, and sulfides are insoluble. (6) Sulfates are soluble except for calcium and barium.

These rules are to be applied in the order given. For example, PbSO4 is insoluble because rule 3 comes before rule 6. In like manner, AgCl is insoluble because rule 3 (the smaller) takes precedence over rule 4 (the larger).

Please be aware that these rules are guidelines only. For example, there are some alkali metal compounds that are insoluble. However, these are rather exotic compounds and can be safely ignored at an introductory level.