Predicting Precipitates: A Double Displacement Homework Exercise

[STEMucator]

Homework Statement

Which of the following combinations of compounds will produce a precipitate?

1. Barium hydroxide and ammonium phosphate
2. Silver nitrate and potassium acetate
3. Copper(I) sulfate and sodium chloride

Homework Equations

Double displacement.

The Attempt at a Solution

1. $3(Ba(OH)_2 )_{aq} + 2((NH_4)_3 PO_4)_{aq} → Ba_3((PO_4 )_2)_{s} + 6(NH_4 OH)_{aq}$

The solid precipitate formed will be barium phosphate.

2. This one I'm a bit unsure about because of the potassium acetate.

$(AgNO_3)_{aq} + (KC_2H_3O_2)_{aq} → (AgC_2H_3O_2)_{s} + (KNO_3)_{aq}$

The solid precipitate formed will be silver acetate.

3. $(Cu_2SO_4)_{aq} + 2(NaCl)_{aq} → 2(CuCl)_{s} + (Na_2SO_4)_{aq}$

The sold precipitate formed will be copper(I) chloride.

Do these look okay? I want to make sure I'm doing these properly.

 

[nate808]

Yes, your solutions look correct. In double displacement reactions, the positive ions in each compound switch places to form new compounds. If one of the new compounds formed is insoluble, it will precipitate out of solution. This is why barium phosphate, silver acetate, and copper(I) chloride all form precipitates in the given reactions. Good job!