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  • Copper(II) Chloride and Sodium Phosphate Reaction: Identifying Possible Phosphates
    Here's how to figure out the possible phosphates formed in the reaction of copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) with sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄):

    1. Understand the Reaction Type:

    This is a double displacement reaction. The ions switch partners:

    CuCl₂ (aq) + Na₃PO₄ (aq) → ? + ?

    2. Identify the Products:

    * Copper(II) phosphate (Cu₃(PO₄)₂) is a likely product. This is because copper(II) ions (Cu²⁺) and phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) have a strong tendency to form an insoluble salt.

    * Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the other product. This is a soluble salt.

    3. The Balanced Chemical Equation:

    3CuCl₂ (aq) + 2Na₃PO₄ (aq) → Cu₃(PO₄)₂ (s) + 6NaCl (aq)

    Therefore, the two possible phosphates are:

    1. Copper(II) phosphate (Cu₃(PO₄)₂) - This is the precipitate (solid) formed in the reaction.

    2. Sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) - This is the soluble reactant, although some might precipitate out if the concentration of Na₃PO₄ is very high.

    Important Note: While sodium phosphate is technically present in the reaction, it's not considered a product of the precipitation reaction since it remains dissolved in the solution.

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