2 KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (aq) + 3 BaCl₂ (aq) → Ba₃(SO₄)₄ (s) + 2 AlCl₃ (aq) + 2 KCl (aq) + 24 H₂O (l)
Here's the breakdown:
* Reactants:
* KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (aq): Potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate (alum), dissolved in water.
* BaCl₂ (aq): Barium chloride, dissolved in water.
* Products:
* Ba₃(SO₄)₄ (s): Barium sulfate, a white solid precipitate that forms.
* AlCl₃ (aq): Aluminum chloride, dissolved in water.
* KCl (aq): Potassium chloride, dissolved in water.
* H₂O (l): Water, a liquid.
Key Points:
* This is a double displacement reaction. The positive and negative ions switch partners.
* Barium sulfate (Ba₃(SO₄)₄) is insoluble in water, hence the "s" designation for solid. This is the driving force behind the reaction, as it causes the formation of a precipitate.
* The water molecules (12H₂O) associated with the alum are released as liquid water.
Note: The equation is balanced to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation is the same.
