BaCl₂(aq) + K₂SO₄(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2KCl(aq)
Here's a breakdown:
* Reactants:
* Barium chloride (BaCl₂) is an aqueous solution (aq).
* Potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) is also an aqueous solution (aq).
* Products:
* Barium sulfate (BaSO₄) is a white solid precipitate (s).
* Potassium chloride (KCl) is an aqueous solution (aq).
Explanation:
This reaction is a double displacement reaction, where the cations and anions of the reactants switch partners. Barium (Ba²⁺) ions from barium chloride combine with sulfate (SO₄²⁻) ions from potassium sulfate to form insoluble barium sulfate. The potassium (K⁺) ions from potassium sulfate combine with chloride (Cl⁻) ions from barium chloride to form soluble potassium chloride.
Key points:
* The equation is balanced because there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
* The state symbols (aq) and (s) indicate the physical state of each reactant and product.
* This reaction is also known as a precipitation reaction because the formation of the solid precipitate, barium sulfate, drives the reaction forward.
