Conversion of one ionic compound to another.

[agrocadabra]

Ok so I'm doing chemistry 1 at uni and have done my first practical. I haven't much background at all in chemistry as I have taken it as an elective for my BEng(elec). I am finding it rather confusing with so many words to remember and so many links to be made between those words to understand. Perhaps I'm a stupid ape?

Here are the questions and my answers:::

Potassium carbonate to zinc carbonate:
Mix together aqueous solutions of Potassium carbonate and Zinc Nitrate then filter out the precipitated Zinc carbonate.

Magnesium sulfate to magnesium hydroxide:
Mix together aqueous solutions of magnesium sulfate and sodium hydrixide. Magnesium hydroxide isolated by filtration.

Lead nitrate to sodium nitrate:
Mix aqueous solutions of lead nitrate and sodium chloride together then filter out the lead chloride and evaporate the water from the resultant filtrate to get a hydrated sodium nitrate.

Please I have no idea if these are right but these are the answers that make sense to me at the moment hence the best i can do at the moment so please give some feedback. Thankyou

 

[symbolipoint]

Those are ionic rearrangment reactions. Review your solubility rules. If precipitates form, then they may be filtered to separate them from the rest of the resulting solution. Note that some (many?) chlorides of heavy metals are insoluble.

 

[Blueshift5]

I would like to commend you for taking the time to understand and learn about chemistry even though it is not your main field of study. It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and confused when first starting out in a new subject, especially one as complex as chemistry. The key to mastering any subject is practice and repetition, so I would encourage you to continue practicing and reviewing the concepts until they become more familiar to you.

In terms of your answers, they are generally correct. However, I would like to clarify a few points. In the conversion of potassium carbonate to zinc carbonate, it is important to note that the reaction is a double displacement reaction, where the potassium ion and zinc ion switch places to form the new compound. Also, in the conversion of lead nitrate to sodium nitrate, it is important to mention that the lead chloride is filtered out because it is insoluble in water, while the sodium nitrate remains in the solution because it is soluble. Overall, your answers show a good understanding of the conversion process.

My suggestion would be to continue practicing and reviewing the concepts, and also to seek help from your instructor or classmates if you have any further questions or confusions. Chemistry can be a challenging subject, but with dedication and persistence, you will be able to grasp the concepts and excel in your studies. Keep up the good work!