Question

Identify a chemical reagent used in this experiment that can be used to distinguish solid CaCl2 (soluble) from solid CaCO3 (insoluble). What is the distinguishing observation?

Answer 1

Answer: Silver nitrate is the chemical reagent used to distinguish.

Explanation:

Dissolve both compounds in water. And add silver nitrate to that solution.

1. In case of calcium chloride

The calcium chloride is soluble in water and thus forms ions in aqueous solution.The chloride ions present in the solution react with silver ions of silver nitrate to give white color precipitate of silver chloride.

$2AgNO_3+CaCl_2\rightarrow 2AgCl(white)+Ca(NO_3)_2$

2. in case of calcium carbonate.

The calcium carbonate is poorly soluble in water. Since, it doesn't get dissolved in water.

When silver nitrate is added there will be no formation of any precipitate.

Answer 2

A chemical reagent that is used in this experiment is silver nitrate (AgNO3). It is used to distinguish calcium chloride and calcium carbonate. when this reagent is used, silver from silver nitrate reacts with Chloride to calcium chloride and forms silver chloride, making a precipitates of white color.