Label the following as soluble or insoluble in water:
a. AgCl
b. NH4NO3
c. Ca(OH)2
d. BaSO4
e. AlPO4
Answer (2)
AgCl: Insoluble, NH4NO3: Soluble, Ca(OH)2: Soluble, BaSO4: Insoluble, AlPO4: Insoluble
Explanation
Problem Analysis We are given five chemical compounds: AgCl, NH4NO3, Ca(OH)2, BaSO4, and AlPO4. We need to determine whether each compound is soluble or insoluble in water.
Solubility Rules We will use solubility rules to determine the solubility of each compound in water. Solubility rules are a set of guidelines that predict whether an ionic compound will dissolve in water based on the ions it is composed of.
AgCl Solubility a. AgCl: Most chloride salts (Cl⁻) are soluble, but there are exceptions. Silver chloride (AgCl) is one of the exceptions and is insoluble in water.
NH4NO3 Solubility b. NH4NO3: All nitrate salts (NO3⁻) are soluble. Also, all ammonium salts (NH4⁺) are soluble. Therefore, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is soluble in water.
Ca(OH)2 Solubility c. Ca(OH)2: Most hydroxide salts (OH⁻) are insoluble, but there are exceptions. Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is one of the exceptions and is considered slightly soluble, but for the purpose of this question, we will consider it soluble .
BaSO4 Solubility d. BaSO4: Most sulfate salts (SO4²⁻) are soluble, but there are exceptions. Barium sulfate (BaSO4) is one of the exceptions and is insoluble in water.
AlPO4 Solubility e. AlPO4: Most phosphate salts (PO4³⁻) are insoluble. Aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) follows this rule and is insoluble in water.
Final Answer In summary: a. AgCl: Insoluble b. NH4NO3: Soluble c. Ca(OH)2: Soluble d. BaSO4: Insoluble e. AlPO4: Insoluble
Examples
Understanding the solubility of different compounds is crucial in various real-world applications. For instance, in environmental science, knowing whether a pollutant will dissolve in water helps predict its spread and impact on water sources. In medicine, the solubility of a drug affects its absorption and effectiveness in the body. In chemical synthesis, solubility is a key factor in determining the success of a reaction and the ease of product separation. For example, when designing a water treatment plant, engineers need to know which chemicals will dissolve in water and which will precipitate out as solids, so they can design the appropriate filtration and treatment processes.
AgCl and BaSO4 are insoluble, while NH4NO3 and Ca(OH)2 are soluble in water. AlPO4 is also insoluble. These classifications are based on general solubility rules in chemistry.
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