Reactions: Silver Nitrate and Sodium Chloride.
Properties of the Original Substances: Two clear liquids: silver nitrate solution and sodium chloride solution.
Properties of Products: A white precipitates form (A powdery substance that settles to the bottom).
The reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride produces a white precipitate called silver chloride. This powdery substance settles at the bottom of the solution. The formation of a precipitate indicates a chemical reaction taking place between the two substances.
To understand the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride and how it forms white precipitates, let's break it down step by step:
Step 1: Chemical Equation
The chemical equation for the reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) can be represented as:
AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3
Step 2: Ionic Compounds
Both silver nitrate and sodium chloride are ionic compounds. Silver nitrate consists of silver ions (Ag+) and nitrate ions (NO3-), while sodium chloride consists of sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
Step 3: Reaction
When silver nitrate and sodium chloride are mixed, a double displacement reaction occurs. In this reaction, the positive silver ion (Ag+) from silver nitrate combines with the negative chloride ion (Cl-) from sodium chloride, forming silver chloride (AgCl) as a product. The positive sodium ion (Na+) from sodium chloride combines with the negative nitrate ion (NO3-) from silver nitrate, forming sodium nitrate (NaNO3) as another product.
Step 4: Precipitation
Silver chloride (AgCl) is a sparingly soluble compound, meaning it does not easily dissolve in water. When silver chloride forms during the reaction, it appears as a white precipitate. The precipitate is a powdery substance that settles at the bottom of the solution due to its insolubility.
Step 5: Net Ionic Equation
The net ionic equation for the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride can be written by omitting the spectator ions (ions that appear on both sides of the equation unchanged):
Ag+ + Cl- → AgCl
In this net ionic equation, the silver ion (Ag+) from silver nitrate reacts with the chloride ion (Cl-) from sodium chloride to form silver chloride (AgCl) as the precipitate.
In summary, when silver nitrate and sodium chloride are mixed, they undergo a double displacement reaction, resulting in the formation of silver chloride (AgCl) as a white precipitate.