Answer to Question #135378 in General Chemistry for Nielle

Question

Which of the following aqueous solutions when mixed will have a precipitation reaction occur? If yes write balanced molecular, total ionic and net ionic equations.
a) Potassium carbonate + barium hydroxide
b) aluminum nitrate + sodium phosphate

Answer 1

(a) Yes, here a precipitation reaction occurs. and this double displacement reaction's products are BaCO₃ and KOH, and BaCO₃ is insoluble in solution and hence forms as a solid precipitate.

Molecular: K₂CO₃ (aq) + Ba(OH)₂ (aq) ----> BaCO₃ (s) + 2 KOH (aq)

Total Ionic: 2 K⁺ (aq) + CO₃^2- (aq) + Ba²⁺ (aq) + 2 OH^- (aq) ---->

BaCO₃ (s) + 2 K⁺ (aq) + 2 OH^- (aq)

Net Ionic: Ba²⁺ (aq) + CO₃^2- (aq) ----> BaCO₃ (s)

(b) Yes, a precipitation reaction occurs. The double displacement products are NaNO3 and AlPO4, and AlPO₄ is insoluble and thus forms as a solid precipitate.

Molecular: Al(NO₃)₃ (aq) + Na₃PO₄ (aq) ----> 3 NaNO₃ (aq) + AlPO₄ (s)

Total Ionic: Al³⁺ (aq) + 3 NO₃^- (aq) + 3 Na⁺ (aq) + PO₄^3- (aq) ---->

3 Na⁺ (aq) + 3 NO₃^- (aq) + AlPO₄ (s)

Net Ionic: Al³⁺ (aq) + PO₄^3- (aq) ----> AlPO₄ (s)