Precipitations Reactions
There are many common types of reactions that occur in aqueous solutions. The precipitation
reaction is one of them, which results in the formation of precipitate (insoluble product).
Therefore, the precipitate is the insoluble solid that forms during the chemical reaction and
separates out in solution. For example, when an aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) is
added to the aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl), a white precipitate of silver chloride
(AgCl) is formed that is indicated by the following chemical reaction.
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)
Sodium chloride (NaCl) remains in solution meaning that exits as a sodium ion (Na+) and a
chloride ion (Cl-). This type of equation is called molar equation because it is written in terms
of molecular formulas. This type of representation is useful in two ways (a) to identify the
reagents, and (b) to carry out the experiment in the laboratory because this identifies reagents to
be used. However, the molecular equation is a gross representation of the chemical reaction on a
macroscopic level, and it does not give any accurate picture of the chemical reaction at a
microscopic level.
Ionic compounds dissociate into ions when dissolved in water (aqueous solution). To be more
realistic, the chemical equation should show the dissociated ions of the compounds. After all,
only ions, not compounds, are involved in the reaction. Now, we can rewrite the above equation
in terms of ions for all the compounds except AgCl because it is the resulting solid that cannot be
broken up into ions.
Ag+(aq) + NO3-(aq) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) AgCl(s) + Na+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
This equation is known as the total ionic equation that is written in terms of ions with proper
charges except the solid. The examination of the above total ionic equation reveals that some
ions, like Na+ and NO3-, did not participate in the reaction because they exist on both sides of the
equation. These ions are labeled as spectator ions. Spectator ions do not participate in the
chemical reaction, but they are simply staying there to watch the reaction, just like, you going to
the ball game and watching the game. You do not participate in the game, but you watch the
game; you are a spectator not a player. Therefore, we do not need the specter ions and they can
be cancelled out on both sides.
Ag+(aq) + NO3-(aq) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) AgCl(s) + Na+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
Now we can rewrite the above equation by excluding the spectator ions.
Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) AgCl(s)
which is known as the net ionic equation, which shows only the species (ions) responsible for
the reaction.
The chemical reaction in the above equation is the formation of silver chloride solid. In this
process, only the silver ion and the chloride ion react together to produce sliver chloride solid.
The above concept can also be applied to other chemical reactions where the pure liquid and the
gas are formed. Consider the following examples.
When acid and base react together, they form water as a pure liquid and a soluble salt. For
example, the reaction between the hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide is given below.
HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) H2O(l) + NaCl(aq)
This is a molecular equation. When the pure liquid like water is formed it remains intact in
solution without further breaking up into ions. The total ionic equation for this reaction is,
H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
As you can see, this reaction has two spectator ions (Na+, Cl-) because they appear on both sides
of the equation, hence they can be cancelled.
H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
The net ionic equation eliminating the spectator ions assumes
H+(aq) + OH-(aq) H2O(l)
which indicates the formation of water from hydrogen ion and hydroxide ion.
The reaction between the potassium sulfide (K2S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) involves the
formation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas and soluble potassium chloride (KCl) salt. The
molecular equation for this reaction is
K2S(aq) + 2HCl(aq) 2KCl(aq)+ H2S(g)
This equation can be converted into total ionic equation by writing the ions for each compound
except H2S because it is in the form of gas (remember that when the gas is formed, it cannot be
broken down into ions just like precipitate and pure liquid). Thus,
2K+(aq) + S2- (aq)+ 2H+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) 2K+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq) +H2S(g)
Cancelling the spectator ions leaves the net ionic equation as,
S2- (aq)+ 2H+(aq) H2S(g)
Things to Remember
You should know how to break up the compounds into ions monatomic or polyatomic.
You should also know the proper charges on the ions, whether monatomic or polyatomic.
If the solid, the pure liquid or the gas is formed in the reaction, do not break that into
ions- leave that chemical formula the way it is.
