When you mix calcium chloride (CaCl₂) with sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) in an aqueous solution, a double displacement reaction occurs, leading to the formation of a precipitate.

Here's the balanced chemical equation:

CaCl₂ (aq) + Na₂SO₄ (aq) → CaSO₄ (s) + 2 NaCl (aq)

Explanation:

* Reactants:

* Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) is a soluble ionic compound.

* Sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) is also a soluble ionic compound.

* Products:

* Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) is an insoluble ionic compound, meaning it does not dissolve readily in water and forms a solid precipitate.

* Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a soluble ionic compound and remains dissolved in the solution.

Observations:

When you mix the solutions, you will observe:

* Formation of a white precipitate: This is the calcium sulfate that forms as a solid.

* Clear solution remaining: The sodium chloride remains dissolved, resulting in a clear solution.

Net Ionic Equation:

The net ionic equation shows only the species involved in the formation of the precipitate:

Ca²⁺ (aq) + SO₄²⁻ (aq) → CaSO₄ (s)

Important Note: The reaction will only proceed if the concentrations of the reactants are sufficient to reach the solubility product constant (Ksp) of calcium sulfate.