Classify the type of chemical reaction
CaCl2 + Na2SO4> CaSO4 + 2 NaCl
The chemical reaction
CaCl2 + Na2SO4 → CaSO4 + 2 NaCl
is an example of a double displacement reaction, also known as a metathesis reaction. In this type of reaction, the cations and anions of two different compounds swap places, forming two new compounds.
In this specific reaction:
- The calcium cation (Ca^2+) from calcium chloride (CaCl2) replaces the sodium cation (Na^+) in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) to form calcium sulfate (CaSO4).
- The sodium cations (Na^+) from sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) combine with the chloride anions (Cl^-) from calcium chloride (CaCl2) to form sodium chloride (NaCl).