Ion Exchange Between Salts in a Solution

[APeterson]

If you have two alkaline Earth metal-halide salts in a solution (for example potassium iodide and sodium chloride), when you boil off the water will you find that new salts (In this case potassium chloride and sodium iodide) have formed? Will the most electronegative and least electronegative ions seek each other out? Will you end up with only two salts at the end, assuming you had equal proportions of the salts at the beginning, or will you end up with various similar concentrations of 4 salts?

 

[Borek]

What will happen depends mostly on solubilities - less soluble salts will start to crystallize first, followed by the less soluble ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_crystallization_(chemistry )

 

[APeterson]

Thanks.

 

[APeterson]

Also, do enthalpies of formation have any meaningful effect on which salts result? Could you theoretically have a precipitation reaction if you don't remove the water?

 

[LudusRex]

I can confirm that boiling off the water in a solution of two alkaline Earth metal-halide salts will result in the formation of new salts. In the given example of potassium iodide and sodium chloride, the boiling process will lead to the formation of potassium chloride and sodium iodide.

This is because the boiling process causes the ions in the solution to become more mobile and allows for an exchange of ions between the two salts. The most electronegative and least electronegative ions will indeed seek each other out, as this exchange follows the principles of ion exchange and charge balance.

The end result will depend on the initial proportions of the two salts in the solution. If the salts were present in equal proportions, then the final product will likely be a mixture of the two new salts, with similar concentrations. However, if the initial proportions were not equal, the resulting concentrations of the four salts may vary.

Furthermore, other factors such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of other ions in the solution may also affect the final outcome of the ion exchange process. It is important to carefully control these variables in order to achieve the desired salts in the final product.

In conclusion, the ion exchange between salts in a solution is a complex process that can result in the formation of new salts. It is important for scientists to carefully consider the initial conditions and control the variables in order to accurately predict and obtain the desired outcome.