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.