Lab 3-2: Solubility and Precipitation Reactions

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to investigate which combinations of aqueous ionic
compounds result in the formation of a precipitate and which produce no chemical reaction. From your
observations, you will develop a truncated set of solubility rules.

Procedure:

1. Find the pipet with NaNO3 and add two drops of the solution to each cell in the first column.

2. Find the pipet with NaCl and add two drops of the solution to each cell in the second column.

3. Find the pipet with Na2SO4 and add two drops of the solution to each cell in the third column.

4. Find the pipet with LiNO3 and add two drops on top of the droplets in each cell in the first row.
Be careful not to touch the tip of the pipet to the droplet already on the sheet.

5. Find the pipet with Mg(NO3)2 and add two drops on top of the droplets in each cell in the second
row. Be careful not to touch the tip of the pipet to the droplet already on the sheet.

6. Find the pipet with AgNO3 and add two drops on top of the droplets in each cell in the third row.
Be careful not to touch the tip of the pipet to the droplet already on the sheet.

7. Observe the mixtures you just made and look for any sign of precipitate formation (solid, cloudy,
opaque, murky, etc.). Use the provided magnifying glass as needed to get accurate observations.

8. Record the color of each precipitate and any other observations formed in your data table. Write
“No Reaction” if no visible change is observed.

Worksheet Questions:

9. One of the solutions you tested should have produced a precipitate when it was combined with
the Na2SO4 solution.

a. Which solution produced the precipitate when it was combined with the Na2SO4 solution?

AgNO3

b. List the names (not formulas) of the ions that are dissolved in the solution mentioned in
question (a) as well as those in the Na2SO4 solution.

Ions in the solution from question (a): Silver Ion + Nitrate Ion

Ions in Na2SO4 solution: Sodium ion, Sulfate ion

c. When two soluble ionic compounds are combined in an aqueous environment, the cations
and the anions can form two new pairs. For example, the Na+ ion from Na2SO4 can pair
up with a different ion (instead of its “original” partner, SO42- ion). Using the names of
the ions, list the two new pairs that can form from the four ions in question (b) above.
 Pair 1: Silver Sulfate

Pair 2: Sodium Nitrate

d. Only one of the two pairs of ions you provided in question (c) produces a precipitate.
Which pair do you think is the one that produced a precipitate in this reaction? Briefly
explain your reasoning.

AgSO4 sodium is soluble and silver sulfate is insoluble because most silver ions are
insoluble

e. Write the formula (not name) of the precipitate, including the proper phase symbol.

Ag2SO4(s)

f. The net ionic equation of a precipitation double replacement reaction shows the number
and type of each ion that combines to form one unit of the precipitate. Write the net ionic
equation for this reaction.

SO42-(aq)+ 2Ag+(aq) → Ag2SO4(s)

g. One of the two pairs of ions you provided in question (c) does not produce a precipitate.
Write the formula of the compound that consists of the ions in this pair.

NaNO3

h. In a chemical equation, what phase symbol would you use for the compound from
question (g)? Briefly explain your reasoning.

Aq since no precipitates means no solids and that the ion would dissolve in water meaning
that it’s aqueous.

i. Write the balanced molecular equation for this reaction. Don’t forget to include phase
symbols.

Na2SO4(aq ) + 2AgNO3(aq) → Ag2SO4(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)

10. Repeat the process of adding drops to the sheet for the remaining columns and rows until every
combination has been made.
 11. Record the color of each precipitate and any other observations formed in your data table. Write
“No Reaction” if no visible change is observed.

12. For each combination of solutions which resulted in a precipitation reaction, identify the
precipitate that formed. In the table provided below, write the formula and name of each
precipitate.

NaNO3 NaCl Na2SO4 NaOH Na2CO3 Na3PO4

LiNO3 No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction

Mg(OH)2 MgCO3 Mg3(PO4)2

Mg(NO3)2 No reaction No reaction No reaction Magnesium Magnesium Magnesium
Hydroxide Carbonate Phosphate

AgOH
AgCl Ag2CO3 Ag3PO4
Ag2SO4 Silver
Silver Silver Silver
Silver Sulfate Hydroxide
AgNO3 No reaction Chloride Carbonate Phosphate
Slightly Brown
Pure white Filled with thick dark
yellow ppt murkier than
ppt beige white yellow
before ppt
Cu(OH)2 CuCO3 (Cu2)3(PO4)2
Copper(II) Copper Copper(II)
Cu(NO3)2 No ppt No ppt No ppt Hydroxide (II) Carbonate Phosphate
Dark blue Murky lighter
and murky blue color Light blue

13. Which anion is always soluble? Only leave the ion that is always soluble in the box.

Choose from: NO3−

14. Which three anions are most often insoluble? Only leave the ions that are insoluble in the box.

Choose from, OH−, CO32− and PO43−

15. Which cation is always soluble? Only leave the ion that is always soluble in the box.

Choose from: Li+

16. Which cation is most often insoluble? Only leave the ion that is insoluble in the box.

Choose from: Choose from Ag+

17. Clean-up: Follow the instructions on the board and wipe your countertop with the cleaning spray.

18. One of the solutions you tested should have produced a precipitate when it was combined with
the NaCl solution.
a. Write the balanced molecular equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(𝑎𝑞) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

b. Based on the phase symbols, write the formulas of the ions that are dispersed (in their
dissociated form) in each solution before the two solutions are combined.

Cl- , Na+ , Ag+, NO3-

c. Based on the phase symbols, write the formulas of the ions that are dispersed (in their
dissociated form) in the reaction mixture after the two solutions are combined.

Na+, NO3-

d. Identify the spectator ions in this reaction.

Na + NO3

e. Write the balanced net ionic equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

Cl-(aq) + Ag+(𝑎𝑞) → AgCl(s)

19. From your results, choose a reaction involving Na3PO4 that produced a precipitate.
a. Write the balanced molecular equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

2Na3PO4(aq) + 3Mg(NO3)2(aq) → 3Na2(NO3)2(aq) + Mg3(PO4)2(s)

b. Familiarize yourself with particle-level diagrams by examining those on p. 12 of the

Study Guide. Then, add a drawing (“insert > drawing > new”) of a particle-level diagram
of this reaction mixture before any products are formed (i.e., before any reaction occurs).
Below are some additional instructions/guidelines.

● Start by drawing 2 formula units of Na3PO4, then draw the correct number of formula
units of the other reactant that would react with 2 formula units of Na3PO4.
● The drawing of the particles should clearly indicate the phase of each particle. Think
about whether the particles should be drawn to be separated or bound to each other.
● Use different shapes to represent the different types of particles in solution.
 ● Each particle should be labeled with a symbol/formula (with charge if applicable)
indicating the identity of the particle.

c. Add a drawing of a particle-level diagram of this reaction mixture after products are
formed (i.e., after the reaction is complete).

d. Write the balanced net ionic equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

3Mg2+ + 2PO43- → Mg3(PO4)2(s)

e. Identify the spectator ions in this reaction.

Sodium Ion, Nitrate Ion or Na+, NO3-

20. From your results, choose a reaction involving NaOH that produced a precipitate.
a. Write the balanced molecular equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.
 NaOH(aq) + AgNO3(aq) → NaNO3(aq) + AgOH(s)

b. Write the balanced net ionic equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

Ag+(aq) + OH- (aq)→ AgOH (s)

c. Identify the spectator ions in this reaction.

Na+, NO3-

21. From your results, choose a reaction involving Na2CO3 that produced a precipitate.
a. Write the balanced molecular equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

Na2CO3(aq)+ 2AgNO3(aq) → Na2(NO3)2(aq)+ Ag2CO3(s)

b. Write the balanced net ionic equation for this reaction, including phase symbols.

CO32- + 2Ag+ = Ag2CO3(s)

c. Identify the spectator ions in this reaction.

Sodium Ion, Silver Ion

22. Using the solubility rules found on your reference sheet, determine the precipitate(s) for each of
the following reactions and provide the name and formula of each precipitate.
a. Sodium carbonate (aq) + magnesium iodide (aq) →

Magnesium Carbonate, MgCO3

b. Calcium chloride (aq) + potassium sulfate (aq) →

Calcium Sulfate, CaSO4

c. Barium hydroxide (aq) + zinc sulfate (aq) →

Barium Sulfate, BaSO4