Here's the balanced chemical equation:
Na₂HPO₄ (aq) + CaCl₂ (aq) → CaHPO₄ (s) + 2NaCl (aq)
Here's what happens:
* Reactants:
* Na₂HPO₄ is dissolved in water, forming sodium and hydrogen phosphate ions (Na⁺ and HPO₄²⁻).
* CaCl₂ is also dissolved in water, forming calcium and chloride ions (Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻).
* Products:
* CaHPO₄ (Calcium hydrogen phosphate) precipitates out of the solution as a white solid.
* NaCl (Sodium chloride) remains dissolved in the solution.
Explanation:
The reaction occurs because calcium ions (Ca²⁺) from CaCl₂ combine with hydrogen phosphate ions (HPO₄²⁻) from Na₂HPO₄ to form the insoluble compound CaHPO₄. This results in the precipitation of calcium hydrogen phosphate, leaving sodium chloride in the solution.
Note: The solubility of CaHPO₄ depends on the pH of the solution. It's generally considered slightly soluble, but in the presence of excess Ca²⁺ ions, it can form a more insoluble calcium phosphate compound (Ca₃(PO₄)₂).