Does a reaction occur when aqueous solutions of chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide are combined?
Yes, Cr(OH)2 will precipitate
Yes, a reaction occurs when aqueous solutions of chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide are combined. The reaction can be represented by the following balanced chemical equation:
CrSO4(aq) + 2KOH(aq) → Cr(OH)2(s) + K2SO4(aq)
In this reaction, chromium(II) sulfate reacts with potassium hydroxide to form chromium(II) hydroxide, which appears as a solid precipitate, and potassium sulfate, which remains in solution.
To determine if a reaction occurs when aqueous solutions of chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide are combined, we need to consider their chemical formulas and solubility rules.
First, let's write the chemical formulas for chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide:
- Chromium(II) sulfate: CrSO4
- Potassium hydroxide: KOH
Next, we need to check the solubility of the two compounds. Generally, sulfates are soluble, while hydroxides are usually insoluble except for some alkali metals and ammonium hydroxide. In this case, both chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide are soluble in water.
Now, let's write the balanced equation for the possible reaction:
CrSO4(aq) + KOH(aq) →
Since both compounds are soluble, they dissociate into ions in the aqueous solution:
Cr2+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq) + K+(aq) + OH^-(aq) →
To determine if a reaction occurs, we need to check if any insoluble product forms. In this case, no insoluble product is formed based on the solubility rules. Therefore, we can conclude that no reaction occurs when aqueous solutions of chromium(II) sulfate and potassium hydroxide are combined.