MODULE 3

14

WORKSHEET

INVESTIGATING
PRECIPITATION REACTIONS
EXPERIMENT:

Syllabus reference 8.4.3

AIM
To compare the solubility of a range of ionic substances through precipitation reactions.

EQUIPMENT
test tubes (6)
Cations (all 0.1 mol

test tube rack

L1)

in dropper bottles

Anions (all 0.1 mol L1) in dropper bottles

sodium nitrate, NaNO3

potassium nitrate, KNO3

silver nitrate, AgNO3

potassium chloride, KCl

lead(II) nitrate, Pb(NO3)2

sodium sulfate, Na2SO4

ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3

sodium carbonate, Na2CO3

magnesium sulfate, MgSO4

sodium acetate, NaCH3COO

iron(II) sulfate, FeSO4

sodium hydroxide, NaOH

copper(II) sulfate, CuSO4

zinc(II) sulfate, ZnSO4
aluminium sulfate, Al2(SO4)3
barium chloride, BaCl2
calcium chloride, CaCl2
iron(III) chloride, FeCl3
SAFETY: Wear safety glasses. Lead and barium salts are poisonous so avoid
contact with skin. If contact occurs wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Dispose of as directed by your teacher. Consult Chemical Safety in Schools
booklet (CSIS).

PROCEDURE
1

Put a 5 mL of a chemical containing each anion into each of six test tubes. Take care not to mix droppers.

Add 5 mL of a chemical containing the first cation to each. Record your observations.

Clean all test tubes thoroughly as incorrect results can arise from contamination of solutions.

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CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY PRELIM

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Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the next cation. Continue until all cations have been tested.

test tube

test tube
rack

RESULTS
Complete the following table. For no reaction record NR, for a precipitate record P.
ANION
CATION

NO3

Cl

SO42

CO32

CH3COO

OH

NITRATE

CHLORIDE

SULFATE

CARBONATE

ETHANOATE

HYDROXIDE

Na
Ag
Pb2
NH4

Mg2
Fe2
Cu2
Zn2
Al3
Ba2
Ca2
Fe3

QUESTIONS
1

Summarise your results into statements such as: All nitrates that we tested are ...

Do the results of the experiment match the solubility rules in your textbook?

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia

CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY PRELIM

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What, if any, were the discrepancies? Offer a reason for these discrepancies and suggest a way of
resolving them.

Write a balanced ionic equation for each of the reactions for which a precipitate was obtained.

CONCLUSION
Summarise the solubility rules according to your results.

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia

CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY PRELIM

MODULE 3 WS 14