Will a precipitate form of solutions of potassium sulfate and barium nitrate are combined?

Question

Will the precimitate form of solutions of potassium sulfate and barium nitrate are combined? If so, write a net ionic equation for the reaction. 

Answer 1

Morgan,

 

To answer a question like that you need to have your solubility rules with you... so pull out your textbook and find that table or list there.

 

Now you have an ionic compound + an anion compound... this means that you will have double displacement reaction in which the ions will change partners.

 

potassium sulfate + barium nitrate --> barium sulfate + potassium nitrate

 

Based on the solubility rules in your book, you should be able to determine that

1. all potassium salts are soluble = (aq)
2. all nitrate salts are soluble = (aq)
3. most sulfate salts are soluble = (aq) EXCEPT WITH lead, barium, etc... then it would be (s)
4. there is no rule about barium per se... it's only an exception to other rules.

 

Based on this analysis, the states of your compounds should be:

 

potassium sulfate + barium nitrate --> barium sulfate + potassium nitrate

        (aq)             +        (aq)      -->            (s)        +        (aq)  

 

So, your precipitate will be barium sulfate, coming from the barium ion and the sulfate ion.... and your net ionic equation would be:

 

barium ion (aq) + sulfate ion (aq) ---> barium sulfate (s)

 

all you have to do now is to:

• write the symbols for the ions with the proper charges
• write the proper formula for your solid
• balance the equation

 

And tada... you are done!