Question

A student cleaned their glassware with tap water (known to contain chloride ions). They then attempted to make a 0.020 M solution of silver nitrate from a stock solution of 0.10 M silver nitrate and immediately noticed a white precipitate. Write the net ionic equation for the formation of the precipitate. Include states of matter.

Answer 1

Answer:

Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s)

Explanation:

The silver nitrate, AgNO₃, dissolves in water as follows:

AgNO₃(aq) → Ag⁺(aq) + NO₃⁻(aq)

The Ag⁺ reacts with Cl⁻ producing AgCl(s), a white insoluble salt. The net ionic equation that describes the formation of the precipitate is:

Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s)