Here's the balanced chemical equation:
Al(NO₃)₃ (aq) + Na₃PO₄ (aq) → AlPO₄ (s) + 3NaNO₃ (aq)
Explanation:
* Aluminum nitrate (Al(NO₃)₃) is a soluble ionic compound.
* Sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) is also a soluble ionic compound.
* Aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄) is an insoluble ionic compound, meaning it forms a precipitate (solid) in the reaction.
* Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) is a soluble ionic compound.
The reaction occurs because:
1. Double displacement: The positive and negative ions of the reactants switch partners. Aluminum ions (Al³⁺) from aluminum nitrate combine with phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) from sodium phosphate to form aluminum phosphate. Similarly, sodium ions (Na⁺) from sodium phosphate combine with nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) from aluminum nitrate to form sodium nitrate.
2. Insolubility: Aluminum phosphate is insoluble in water, so it precipitates out of solution, driving the reaction forward.
Net ionic equation:
The net ionic equation focuses only on the species involved in the formation of the precipitate:
Al³⁺ (aq) + PO₄³⁻ (aq) → AlPO₄ (s)
Observations:
When you mix solutions of aluminum nitrate and sodium phosphate, you would observe the formation of a white, gelatinous precipitate (aluminum phosphate).
