Select the most likely product for this reaction: [tex]AgNO _3( aq )+ NaOH ( aq ) \rightarrow[/tex] ?
A. [tex]AgOH ( s )+ NaNO _3( aq )[/tex]
B. [tex]Ag _2 O ( S )+ HNO _3( aq )[/tex]
C. [tex]Ag ( s )+ H _2(g)+ O _2(g)[/tex]
Answer (2)
Silver nitrate ( A g N O 3 ) reacts with sodium hydroxide ( N a O H ) in a double displacement reaction.
Silver hydroxide ( A g O H ) is initially formed but is unstable and decomposes into silver oxide ( A g 2 O ) and water ( H 2 O ).
The most likely product is silver oxide ( A g 2 O ) due to the instability of silver hydroxide.
The balanced reaction is: 2 A g N O 3 ( a q ) + 2 N a O H ( a q ) → A g 2 O ( s ) + 2 N a N O 3 ( a q ) + H 2 O ( l ) . The final answer is A g 2 O ( S ) + H N O 3 ( a q )
Explanation
Analyzing the Reaction Type The reaction between silver nitrate ( A g N O 3 ) and sodium hydroxide ( N a O H ) is a double displacement reaction. This means the cations and anions of the two reactants switch partners. We need to determine the most likely products based on solubility rules and chemical behavior.
Listing Possible Products Let's consider the possible products:
A g N O 3 ( a q ) + N a O H ( a q ) → A g O H ( s ) + N a N O 3 ( a q )
A g N O 3 ( a q ) + N a O H ( a q ) → A g 2 O ( s ) + H N O 3 ( a q )
A g N O 3 ( a q ) + N a O H ( a q ) → A g ( s ) + H 2 ( g ) + O 2 ( g )
Analyzing the Likelihood of Each Product Now, let's analyze each possibility:
Option 1: Formation of A g O H ( s ) and N a N O 3 ( a q ) Initially, A g O H might form as a product. However, silver hydroxide ( A g O H ) is unstable and quickly decomposes into silver oxide ( A g 2 O ) and water ( H 2 O ): 2 A g O H ( s ) → A g 2 O ( s ) + H 2 O ( l ) Sodium nitrate ( N a N O 3 ) is soluble in water, so it remains in the aqueous phase.
Option 2: Formation of A g 2 O ( s ) and H N O 3 ( a q ) This is the more likely outcome because A g O H is unstable and converts to A g 2 O and H 2 O . The nitric acid ( H N O 3 ) would react with excess N a O H to form N a N O 3 and H 2 O .
Option 3: Formation of A g ( s ) , H 2 ( g ) , and O 2 ( g ) This is not a typical double displacement reaction. It would involve a redox reaction, which is less likely under these conditions. Silver ions are not easily reduced to silver metal by hydroxide ions in aqueous solution.
Determining the Most Likely Product Based on the analysis, the most likely product is silver oxide ( A g 2 O ) because silver hydroxide ( A g O H ) is unstable and decomposes into A g 2 O and water. The reaction can be represented as:
2 A g N O 3 ( a q ) + 2 N a O H ( a q ) → A g 2 O ( s ) + 2 N a N O 3 ( a q ) + H 2 O ( l )
Final Answer Confirmed Therefore, the most likely product is A g 2 O ( s ) .
Examples
Consider a water purification system where silver nitrate is used to precipitate out impurities. Understanding the reaction products helps in designing filters that specifically target and remove the formed compounds, ensuring the water is safe for consumption. This principle applies in various chemical processes where controlling reaction outcomes is crucial for achieving desired results.
The reaction of silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide produces silver oxide as the main product, as silver hydroxide is unstable and decomposes. Thus, the correct product of the reaction is A g 2 O ( s ) + H N O 3 ( a q ) . Therefore, the answer is B.
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