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Use the equation of sodium chloride dissolving in water to complete the activity.

NaCI(s) ⇄ Na⁺(aq) + CI⁻(ag)
A student is testing two clear liquids. One liquid is water that has been modified with hydroxide ions to have a
basic pH. The other liquid is a sports drink that contains added electrolytes, including Na+(a). The student has
available to them multiple samples of a NaCI solution and the ability to test the concentration of ions
in the solution. When NaCI molecules are formed, they crystalize (form crystals). How can the student use the
equilibrium reaction of sodium chloride to determine which liquid is which? In three to five sentences, explain your
answer.

The student can determine which liquid is which by observing the changes in ion concentration when NaCl is added. If Na+ ions are observed in the solution after adding NaCl to the clear liquid, it is the basic pH water. If there is no change in ion concentration when NaCl is added to the sports drink containing Na+, then that liquid is the sports drink. By using the equilibrium reaction of sodium chloride, the student can differentiate between the two liquids based on the presence or absence of Na+ ions in the solution.

The student can determine which liquid is which by mixing each liquid with a sample of NaCl solution. When NaCl crystals dissolve in the basic pH water, they will dissociate into Na+ and Cl- ions in the solution. Therefore, if the student observes Na+ ions in the solution after adding NaCl to the water, they can conclude that the clear liquid is the basic pH water. Conversely, when the NaCl crystals dissolve in the sports drink containing Na+ ions, there will be no change in ion concentration because the solution already contains Na+ ions. This will indicate that the liquid is the sports drink. By observing the ion concentrations after adding NaCl to each liquid, the student can determine which liquid is which based on the equilibrium reaction of sodium chloride.

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By observing the presence or absence of Na+ ions when NaCl is added, the student can determine if the clear liquid is basic pH water or the sports drink containing Na+.