1. Reactants:
* Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base.
* Magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) is a soluble salt.
2. Products:
* Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) is formed as a white, gelatinous precipitate. It is insoluble in water.
* Sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) remains dissolved in solution. It is soluble in water.
3. Balanced Chemical Equation:
2NaOH(aq) + MgSO₄(aq) → Mg(OH)₂(s) + Na₂SO₄(aq)
4. Explanation:
In this reaction, the sodium (Na⁺) ions from NaOH and the magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions from MgSO₄ switch partners. The hydroxide (OH⁻) ions from NaOH combine with the magnesium ions to form magnesium hydroxide, which is insoluble and precipitates out of solution. The remaining sodium ions and sulfate ions stay dissolved in the solution as sodium sulfate.
5. Observations:
* You will observe the formation of a white, cloudy precipitate (magnesium hydroxide) in the solution.
* The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat and the solution will feel slightly warm.
6. Applications:
This reaction is used in various applications, including:
* Water treatment: Magnesium hydroxide is used as a flocculant to remove impurities from water.
* Production of magnesium compounds: The precipitate can be filtered and further processed to obtain magnesium hydroxide, which is used in different industries.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
