* Formation of a precipitate: When silver nitrate and sodium chloride react, they form silver chloride (AgCl), which is insoluble in water and precipitates out as a white solid. This is a clear indication of a new substance being formed.
* Ionic reaction: The reaction is an ionic reaction where silver ions (Ag⁺) from silver nitrate react with chloride ions (Cl⁻) from sodium chloride to form solid silver chloride.
* Irreversible reaction: The formation of silver chloride is an irreversible reaction under normal conditions. The precipitate can be separated from the solution by filtration, leaving behind a solution of sodium nitrate (NaNO₃).
Chemical Equation:
AgNO₃ (aq) + NaCl (aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO₃ (aq)
Key Takeaways:
* Chemical changes involve the formation of new substances with different properties.
* Physical changes only alter the appearance or state of matter, not the chemical composition.
* The formation of a precipitate is a strong indication of a chemical change.
Therefore, adding silver nitrate to salt water results in a chemical change due to the formation of a new substance (silver chloride) and the irreversible nature of the reaction.
