CaCl₂ (aq) + H₂SO₄ (aq) → CaSO₄ (s) + 2HCl (aq)
Here's what happens:
* Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) are both soluble in water and exist as ions in solution.
* The calcium ions (Ca²⁺) from CaCl₂ combine with sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) from H₂SO₄ to form calcium sulfate (CaSO₄). Calcium sulfate is insoluble in water, so it precipitates out of the solution as a solid.
* The remaining ions, hydrogen ions (H⁺) from H₂SO₄ and chloride ions (Cl⁻) from CaCl₂, combine to form hydrochloric acid (HCl), which remains dissolved in the solution.
Important Note: This reaction is an example of a precipitation reaction because a solid (calcium sulfate) forms as a product.