Application
What is the balanced equation for the precipitation of barium sulfate?
The balanced chemical equation for the precipitation of barium sulfate is a crucial concept in chemistry, particularly when dealing with reactions involving insoluble salts. Precipitation reactions occur when two solutions containing dissolved ions are mixed, resulting in the formation of an insoluble solid that separates from the solution. In the case of barium sulfate, the reaction involves barium ions (Ba^2+) and sulfate ions (SO4^2-).
The balanced equation for the precipitation of barium sulfate is as follows:
Ba^2+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq) → BaSO4(s)
Here, the "(aq)" notation indicates that the ions are dissolved in an aqueous (water) solution, while "(s)" stands for solid.
Let's break down the equation step by step:
Reactants:
Barium ions (Ba^2+): These ions are typically provided by a soluble barium salt, such as barium chloride (BaCl2) or barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2).
Sulfate ions (SO4^2-): These ions can come from various soluble sulfates, including sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) or potassium sulfate (K2SO4).
Reaction:
When the two solutions containing barium ions and sulfate ions are mixed, a double displacement reaction occurs. This reaction involves the exchange of ions between the two reactants, leading to the formation of new compounds.
Products:
Barium sulfate (BaSO4): This compound is insoluble in water, meaning it will precipitate out of the solution as a solid. As a result, you will observe a white precipitate forming when the reaction occurs.
Balancing the Equation:
In this case, the equation is already balanced because there is a 1:1 ratio between the barium ions and sulfate ions required to form barium sulfate. Each barium ion combines with one sulfate ion to produce one molecule of barium sulfate.
In summary, the balanced chemical equation for the precipitation of barium sulfate represents a double displacement reaction between soluble barium and sulfate salts, resulting in the formation of an insoluble barium sulfate solid. This reaction is commonly used in analytical chemistry for various purposes, including gravimetric analysis and ion separation.