2AgNO₃ (aq) + CuCl₂ (aq) → 2AgCl (s) + Cu(NO₃)₂ (aq)
Here's what the equation tells us:
* (aq) indicates that the substance is dissolved in water (aqueous solution).
* (s) indicates that the substance is a solid precipitate.
Explanation:
* Silver nitrate and copper chloride are both soluble ionic compounds, meaning they dissociate into their ions when dissolved in water.
* The silver ions (Ag⁺) from silver nitrate react with the chloride ions (Cl⁻) from copper chloride to form silver chloride (AgCl), which is insoluble in water and precipitates out as a white solid.
* The remaining ions, copper (II) ions (Cu²⁺) and nitrate ions (NO₃⁻), combine to form copper nitrate (Cu(NO₃)₂), which remains dissolved in water.
Important Notes:
* This reaction is often used to demonstrate precipitation reactions and the concept of solubility rules.
* The reaction produces a white precipitate of silver chloride, which is often used in photography and other applications.