Here's the balanced chemical equation:
BiCl3 (aq) + 3NaOH (aq) → Bi(OH)3 (s) + 3NaCl (aq)
Explanation:
* Bismuth chloride is a soluble salt in water.
* Sodium hydroxide is a strong base.
* When the two solutions are mixed, the hydroxide ions (OH-) from NaOH react with the bismuth ions (Bi3+) from BiCl3.
* This reaction results in the formation of insoluble bismuth hydroxide, which precipitates out of the solution as a white solid.
* Sodium chloride remains in solution.
Observation: You would observe the formation of a white precipitate (Bi(OH)3) when bismuth chloride is added to sodium hydroxide solution.
Important Note: The reaction may also produce other bismuth oxychlorides depending on the reaction conditions, but the primary product is bismuth hydroxide.