High School Chemistry : Solutions and Mixtures

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Solutions And Mixtures

Which phase label subscript is associated with a soluble compound?

Possible Answers:

(g)

(aq)

(r)

(l)

(s)

Correct answer:

(aq)

Explanation:

If something is soluble, it means it's dissolved in liquid. Generally, the compound associate with the liquid (l) phase label is water; everything else takes the (aq) phase. Note that all these phase labels are written as superscripts after the species they are labeling.

Example Question #11 : Solutions And Mixtures

A solution is created by adding all of the following soluble salts to water:

\displaystyle Ag_{2}SO_{4}\displaystyle NH_{4}Cl, \displaystyle KNO_{3}

Which salt will precipitate out of this solution?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle K_{2}SO_{4}

\displaystyle AgCl

\displaystyle AgNO_{3}

\displaystyle KCl

Correct answer:

\displaystyle AgCl

Explanation:

All of the three salts will dissolve completely in the solution, resulting in all of the ions interacting with one another.

\displaystyle Ag_2SO_4\rightarrow 2Ag^++SO_4^{2-}

\displaystyle NH_4Cl\rightarrow NH_4^++Cl^-

\displaystyle KNO_3\rightarrow K^++NO_3^-

Chloride compounds are generally soluble, but the salt \displaystyle AgCl is one of the notable insoluble chloride salts. When these two ions meet in solution, they will combine and precipitate out of the solution. All the other ion combinations still form soluble compounds except for \displaystyle AgSO_4, which is also insoluble.

Example Question #12 : Solutions And Mixtures

What is the precipitate in the following aqueous reaction?

\displaystyle \small \small AgNO_3 + NaCl \rightarrow AgCl + NaNO_3

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle NaCl

\displaystyle AgCl

\displaystyle AgNO_3

There is no precipitate; all compounds are soluble

\displaystyle NaNO_3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle AgCl

Explanation:

The precipitate will be the product that is insoluble in water, so your choices are \displaystyle AgCl or \displaystyle NaNO_3.

Nitrate salts are always soluble in water, as are alkali metal salts such as sodium. Thus, we know that \displaystyle NaNO_3 will fully dissolve.

Halide salts (such as chlorides) are soluble in water, unless they are combined with silver, lead, or mercury. In this case, the silver atom makes the halide salt, \displaystyle AgCl, insoluble in water. \displaystyle AgCl is the precipitate.

Example Question #14 : Solutions And Mixtures

What is the precipitate in the following aqueous reaction?

\displaystyle \small BaCl_2 + Na_2SO_4 \rightarrow BaSO_4 + NaCl

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle BaSO_4

\displaystyle NaCl

\displaystyle BaSO_4\ \text{and}\ NaCl

\displaystyle BaCl_2

\displaystyle Na_2SO_4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle BaSO_4

Explanation:

The precipitate will be the product that is insoluble in water. The products in this reaction are \displaystyle BaSO_4 and \displaystyle NaCl.

Halide salts (such as chlorides) are soluble in water, unless combined with silver, lead, or mercury. In this case, \displaystyle NaCl is soluble in water.

Sulfate salts are soluble in water, unless combined with silver, calcium, strontium, barium, or lead ions. In this case, \displaystyle BaSO_4 is insoluble and is, therefore, the precipitate.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Precipitates

Which of the following is not an example of a chemical change?

Possible Answers:

A precipitate formed during the mixing of two substances

A cup of water left in the freezer turned into ice

A wood log gets turned to ashes after burning

Bubbles formed after adding a salt to an acid

An iron fence rusted

Correct answer:

A cup of water left in the freezer turned into ice

Explanation:

Water turning to ice is not a chemical reaction, it is a physical reaction. Nothing is changing about the water molecules chemically, they're just going from a liquid state to a solid state. Burning wood is a non-reversible chemical change because the carbon in the wood is reacting with oxygen to create ash and smoke, also, energy in the form of light and heat is released. Rust is formed when iron reacts chemically with oxygen, producing the red-orange color of rust. A gas forming is a good indicator that a chemical reaction has taken place. A precipitate is also a good indicator for a chemical reaction. It may just seem like something is changing states, but the precipitate is not a solid version of one of the reactants, it's the insoluble product formed from the chemical reaction.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Precipitates

Which phase label subscript is associated with an insoluble compound?

Possible Answers:

(l)

(g)

(r)

(s)

(aq)

Correct answer:

(s)

Explanation:

If something is insoluble, it means it cannot be dissolved. The phase label reserved for solids is (s). The other phase labels are: (l) = liquid; (aq) = aqueous; (g) = gas; and the (r) phase label does not exist. Note that all of the phase labels are written as subscripts after the species; for example: \displaystyle H_2O_{(s)}.

Example Question #12 : Solutions And Mixtures

What is the precipitate in the following aqueous reaction?

\displaystyle \small \small AgNO_3 + NaCl \rightarrow AgCl + NaNO_3

Possible Answers:

There is no precipitate; all compounds are soluble

\displaystyle NaNO_3

\displaystyle AgNO_3

\displaystyle AgCl

Correct answer:

\displaystyle AgCl

Explanation:

The precipitate will be the product that is insoluble in water, so your choices are \displaystyle AgCl or \displaystyle NaNO_3.

Nitrate salts are always soluble in water, as are alkali metal salts such as sodium. Thus, we know that \displaystyle NaNO_3 will fully dissolve.

Halide salts (such as chlorides) are soluble in water, unless they are combined with silver, lead, or mercury. In this case, the silver atom makes the halide salt, \displaystyle AgCl, insoluble in water. \displaystyle AgCl is the precipitate.

Example Question #12 : Solutions And Mixtures

What is the precipitate in the following aqueous reaction?

\displaystyle \small \small AgNO_3 + NaCl \rightarrow AgCl + NaNO_3

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle AgNO_3

\displaystyle NaNO_3

There is no precipitate; all compounds are soluble

\displaystyle AgCl

Correct answer:

\displaystyle AgCl

Explanation:

The precipitate will be the product that is insoluble in water, so your choices are \displaystyle AgCl or \displaystyle NaNO_3.

Nitrate salts are always soluble in water, as are alkali metal salts such as sodium. Thus, we know that \displaystyle NaNO_3 will fully dissolve.

Halide salts (such as chlorides) are soluble in water, unless they are combined with silver, lead, or mercury. In this case, the silver atom makes the halide salt, \displaystyle AgCl, insoluble in water. \displaystyle AgCl is the precipitate.

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