Question

In which state does the precipitate exist in a precipitation reaction?

Answer 1

Answer: solid.

Explanation:

Precipitate is the solid substance produced during a chemical reaction carried out in a solution.

The precipitate is formed when the reactants in a chemical reaction, which are in solution, form a compound that is insoluble, and so it cannot stand dissolved but precipiates, normally going to the bottom of the vessel, in solid form.

The phases in a chemical equation are indicated using letters inside parenthesis placed to the right of the chemical formula of each compound or element.

These are the common uses: s for solid, aq for aqueous solution, l for liquid, and g for gaseous.

This is an example:

2 NaOH (aq) + CuCl₂ (aq) → 2 NaCl (aq) + Cu (OH)₂ (s)

The phases are:

• Reactant side: NaOH and CuCl₂ are dissolved in water, which is indicated by the the word aq, meaning aqueous.
• Product side: NaCl is aqueous, and Cu(OH)₂ is in solid form, meaning that it is a precipitate.