1. Identify the Reactants:
* Copper(II) sulfate: CuSO₄
* Barium chloride: BaCl₂
2. Determine the Products:
This is a double displacement reaction where the cations and anions switch partners. The products will be:
* Copper(II) chloride: CuCl₂
* Barium sulfate: BaSO₄
3. Balance the Equation:
The balanced molecular equation is:
CuSO₄(aq) + BaCl₂(aq) → CuCl₂(aq) + BaSO₄(s)
Explanation:
* (aq) indicates that the substance is dissolved in water (aqueous solution).
* (s) indicates that the substance is a solid precipitate.
* The equation is balanced because there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
Key points:
* Barium sulfate (BaSO₄) is insoluble in water and will precipitate out of solution as a white solid.
* This reaction is used in laboratory settings to identify the presence of barium ions.