Question #d60f9

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2015

A white precipitate will be formed.

Explanation:

Silver nitrate and sodium chloride are both soluble ionic compounds, which means that they actually exist as ions in aqueous solution.

AgNO_(3(aq)) -> Ag_((aq))^(+) + NO_(3(aq))^(-)

and

NaCl_((aq)) -> Na_((aq))^(+) + Cl_((aq))^(-)

When these two substances are mixed, the silver cations, Ag^(+), and the chloride anions, Cl^(-), will bond together to form silver chloride, AgCl, an insoluble solid, which precipitates out of solution.

The other two ions, Na^(+) and NO_3^(-), will continue to exist as such in solution, since the potential compound sodium nitrate, NaNO_3, is soluble in aqueous solution.

So, the complete ionic equation looks like this

Ag_((aq))^(+) + NO_(3(aq))^(-) + Na_((aq))^(+) + Cl_((aq))^(-) -> AgCl_((s)) darr + Na_((aq))^(+) + NO_(3(aq))^(-)

The net ionic equation, which you get by eliminating spectator ions, i.e. the ions that are present on both sides of the eqaution, will be

Ag_((aq))^(+) + cancel(NO_(3(aq))^(-)) + cancel(Na_((aq))^(+)) + Cl_((aq))^(-) -> AgCl_((s)) darr + cancel(Na_((aq))^(+)) + cancel(NO_(3(aq))^(-))

or

Ag_((aq))^(+) + Cl_((aq))^(-) -> AgCl_((s)) darr

http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/4309?e=averill_1.0-ch03_s05

So, as a conclusion, a double replacement reaction takes place in which the silver cations and chloride anions form an insoluble white solid called silver hcloride, AgCl.