Precipitation Reaction Chemistry Example 1

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Example 1

easy
Define a precipitation reaction. When solutions of AgNO3\text{AgNO}_3 and NaCl\text{NaCl} are mixed, a white solid forms. Identify the precipitate and write the balanced equation.

Solution

  1. 1
    A precipitation reaction occurs when two aqueous solutions are mixed and an insoluble solid (precipitate) forms.
  2. 2
    Exchange the cations: Ag+\text{Ag}^+ pairs with Cl−\text{Cl}^- to form AgCl\text{AgCl}, and Na+\text{Na}^+ pairs with NO3−\text{NO}_3^- to form NaNO3\text{NaNO}_3.
  3. 3
    AgCl is insoluble (per solubility rules) and precipitates out. Balanced equation: AgNO3(aq)+NaCl(aq)→AgCl(s)↓+NaNO3(aq)\text{AgNO}_3\text{(aq)} + \text{NaCl(aq)} \rightarrow \text{AgCl(s)}\downarrow + \text{NaNO}_3\text{(aq)}.

Answer

AgNO3+NaCl→AgCl↓+NaNO3\text{AgNO}_3 + \text{NaCl} \rightarrow \text{AgCl}\downarrow + \text{NaNO}_3
Precipitation reactions are a type of double displacement reaction driven by the formation of an insoluble product. Solubility rules help predict which ionic compounds are insoluble and will precipitate.

About Precipitation Reaction

A type of double displacement reaction in which two aqueous ionic solutions are mixed and the exchange of ions produces at least one insoluble ionic.

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