Identify Solutions in Beakers A, B & C

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the contents of three beakers labeled A, B, and C, which contain unknown solutions of MgSO4, CaCl2, and AgNO3. Participants explore methods for determining which beaker contains which solution, considering the use of additional reagents and the potential for precipitation reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that precipitation may be a key method for identifying the solutions but is uncertain about the specifics.
  • Another participant questions whether additional reagents can be used, expressing doubt about identifying all three solutions with only the listed compounds.
  • A third participant proposes using CaO to introduce Ca2+ ions to precipitate CaSO4 and suggests using Na2S to precipitate Ag2S from the samples.
  • A later reply challenges the use of CaO as a source of Ca2+ and suggests that silver can be detected using a simpler and more common reagent.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the methods for identifying the solutions, with no consensus on the best approach or the validity of the proposed methods.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the availability of reagents and the effectiveness of the proposed precipitation methods. The discussion does not clarify whether all solutions can be identified with the suggested approaches.

SpecialKM
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There are 3 beakers with solutions inside of the beakers A B and C, however the labels have fallen off!

The labels of the solutions are: MgSO4, CaCl2, and AgNO3.

Explain the steps you would use to determine which beaker has which solution inside of each of the three beakers.

_______________________

My first intuition is that you need to precipitate something, I just don't know what. :(
 
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Follow your intuition then.

Are you allowed to use additional reagents, or can you use only the three listed? In the latter case I am not convinced all three solutions can be properly identified.
 
We can do what ever we want with it! Well, what I think is that first we take a sample of each and add Ca 2+ ions (CaO) to each, and it should then create a precipitate of CaSO4. After that take additional samples from each and add sulphide ions (Na2S) to then form a precipitate of Ag2S.

That's what I think, is this correct?
 
CaO as a source of Ca2+? Think it over.

Na2S will work, but silver can be detected much simpler, with much more common reagent.
 

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