A student attempts to justify that the symbolic representation below is a correct net…
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · A Level · Chemistry · Reactions of ions in aqueous solution · Reactions of ions in aqueous solution
Problem
A student attempts to justify that the symbolic representation below is a correct net ionic equation for a laboratory precipitation reaction.
Ca2+(aq)+2Cl−(aq)→CaCl2(s)
After observing the student’s work, you are asked to evaluate the claim.
(a) Identify any law(s) of conservation that the student’s equation fails to respect. Briefly state the requirement imposed by each law in the context of chemical equations.
(b) Using particle-level reasoning, describe how you would determine whether the numbers of each type of atom are equal on both sides of the equation.
(c) Explain why the formation of a solid salt from aqueous ions cannot be represented with the same ionic species on both sides of the arrow.
(d) Rewrite a correct net ionic equation for the precipitation of calcium carbonate that respects both mass and charge conservation, and briefly justify that it satisfies each law you identified in part (a).