Chemistry for Health Sciences

Two credits
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health
Sciences

Ionic Reactions (Precipitation Reactions)

Introduction (background):
Ionic compounds consist of a positive ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion).
Some ions are monatomic, consisting of a single atom with a positive or negative
charge (Na+, Ca2+ , Cl-, O2-, etc.), and some are polyatomic, consisting of a cluster
of atoms having an overall positive or negative charge (NH4+, NO3-, CO32-, SO42-,
PO43-, etc.).
• Precipitation reaction: is a chemical reaction where one of the products is a
precipitate.

• A Precipitate is a solid substance that is insoluble in water (so it precipitates

or falls to the bottom of the container once it forms in a reaction).
• Like: AgCl, CaCO3, Fe(OH)3

• Such reactions are usually double-displacement reactions between two ionic

compounds in an aqueous medium.
 Chemical Equations
 There are three types of equations to represent an reaction,
some of them is more detailed than the others:

1. Molecular equation
2. Complete ionic equation
3. Net ionic equation

 A precipitation reaction should have a net ionic equation

similar to the following general equation:

(m) An+ (aq) + (n) Bm-(aq) → AmBn (s)

Example of a precipitation reaction:
The reaction between Silver Nitrate solution (AgNO3) and
Sodium Chloride Solution (NaCl):
 Molecular Equation: shows the molecular formulas of the
reactants and their physical states.

 Complete Ionic equation: shows the ions exists in the reaction

mixture, the ones were involved in the precipitate (red), and the
ones weren’t involved (called spectator ions) (blue).

 Net Ionic equation: shows only the ions involved in the

precipitate formation, without the spectator ions.
 Today’s Experiment: We are going to:
1. Examine the reaction between Copper (II) cation (Cu2+)
and some anions, namely:
a) Chloride (Cl–)
b) Hydroxide (OH–)
c) Iodide (I–)
d) Tetraborate (B4O72–)

2. Write down the chemical equations of the reactions that

showed a precipitate formation.

3. Identify the copper salts that are insoluble in water, and

the spectator ions in the reactions of their formation.
Materials:

• Aqueous Solution of Sodium chloride, NaCl

• Aqueous Solution of Copper sulphate,
CuSO4
• Aqueous Solution of Sodium hydroxide,
NaOH
• Aqueous Solution of Potassium iodide, KI
• Aqueous Solution of Sodium borate,
Na2B4O7
• 4 Test tubes
Experiment Procedure:
1. Add ~ 2 mL of CuSO4 solution to the four test tubes.

2. Add ~ 2 mL of NaCl solution to the 1st tube.

Is there any precipitate formed? Yes No

- Molecular Equation:

- Complete Ionic equation:

- Net Ionic equation:

No Net Equation
3. Add ~ 2 mL of NaOH solution to the 2nd tube.

Is there any precipitate formed? Yes No

- Molecular Equation:

- Complete Ionic equation:

- Net Ionic equation:

4. Add ~ 2 mL of KI solution to the 3rd tube.

Is there any precipitate formed? Yes No

- Molecular Equation:

2KI (aq) + CuSO4 (aq) CuI2 (s) + K2SO4 (aq)

- Complete Ionic equation:

2K+(aq) + 2I-(aq) + Cu2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) CuI2 (s) + 2K+(aq) + SO42- (aq)

- Net Ionic equation:

Cu2+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) CuI2 (s)

5. Add ~ 2 mL of Na2B4O7 solution to the 4th tube.

Is there any precipitate formed? Yes No

- Molecular Equation:

- Complete Ionic equation:

- Net Ionic equation:

 Table 1. Solubility Rules for Ionic Compounds in Aqueous Solution

Soluble Ionic Compounds

1. All common compounds of the Group 1A ions (Li+, Na+, K+, etc.) and the ammonium ion
(NH4+) are soluble.
2. All common nitrates (NO3-), acetates (C2H3O2-), and most perchlorates (ClO4-) are soluble.
3. All common chlorides (Cl-), bromides (Br-), and iodides (I-) are soluble, except those of
Ag+, Pb2+, and Hg22+
4. All common sulfates (SO42-) are soluble, except those of Ca2+, Sr2+ , Ba2+ , Pb2+ , and Ag+.
Insoluble Ionic Compounds
5. All metal hydroxides (OH-) are insoluble, except those of Group 1A, NH4+, which are
soluble, and Ca2+ , Sr2+ , and Ba2+ , which are slightly soluble.
6. All sulfides (S2-) are insoluble, except those of Group 1A, NH4+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ .
7. All carbonates (CO32-) and phosphates (PO43-) are insoluble, except those of Group 1A and
NH4+.
Observations (It should be in report):

A) Complete the following table with your observations

Test Tube Is there any precipitate Formula of Precipitate

(yes or no)?

NaCl and CuSO4

NaOH and CuSO4

KI and CuSO4

Na2B4O7 and CuSO4