Question

Will a precipitate (ppt) form when 20.0 mL of 1.1 × 10 –3 M Ba(NO 3) 2 are added to 80.0 mL of 8.4 × 10 –4 M Na 2CO 3?

Answer 1

Answer:

A precipitate will form, BaCO₃

Explanation:

When Ba²⁺ and CO₃²⁻ ions are in an aqueous media, BaCO₃(s), a precipitate, is produced following its Ksp expression:

Ksp = 5.1x10⁻⁹ = [Ba²⁺] [CO₃²⁻]

Where the concentrations of the ions are the concentrations in equilibrium

For actual concentrations of a solution, you can define Q, reaction quotient, as:

Q = [Ba²⁺] [CO₃²⁻]

If Q > Ksp, the ions will react producing BaCO₃, if not, no precipitate will form.

Actual concentrations of Ba²⁺ and CO₃²⁻ are:

[Ba²⁺] = [Ba(NO₃)₂] = 1.1x10⁻³ × (20.0mL / 100.0mL) = 2.2x10⁻⁴M

[CO₃²⁻] = [Na₂CO₃] = 8.4x10⁻⁴ × (80.0mL / 100.0mL) = 6.72x10⁻⁴M

100.0mL is the volume of the mixture of the solutions

Replacing in Q expression:

Q = [Ba²⁺] [CO₃²⁻]

Q = [2.2x10⁻⁴M] [6.72x10⁻⁴M]

Q = 1.5x10⁻⁷

As Q > Ksp

A precipitate will form, BaCO₃