Predict the products of the following double displacement reactions and balance the equation.
a. [tex]Na_2 CO_3(aq)+CuSO 4(aq) \longrightarrow[/tex]
b. [tex]\left( NH _4\right)_2 SO _4( aq )+ CaCl _2( aq )[/tex]
c. [tex]Na _2 CO _3( aq )+ Cu \left( NO _3\right)_2( aq ) \longrightarrow[/tex]
d. [tex]Mg ( OH )_2( aq )+ HNO _3( aq )[/tex]
Answer (1)
Predict products by swapping cations and considering solubility rules.
Balance the chemical equations.
a) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u S O 4 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pN a 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s )
b) ( N H 4 ) 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C a C l 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N H 4 Cl ( a q ) + C a S O 4 ( a q )
c) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N a N O 3 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s )
d) M g ( O H ) 2 ( s ) + 2 H N O 3 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pM g ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) + 2 H 2 O ( l )
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given four double displacement reactions and we need to predict the products and balance the equations.
Reaction Principles For a double displacement reaction, the cations of the two reactants switch places. We also need to consider the solubility rules to determine the state of the products (aqueous or solid precipitate).
Reaction a a) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u S O 4 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p
Possible products: N a 2 S O 4 and C u C O 3 .
According to solubility rules, N a 2 S O 4 is soluble and C u C O 3 is insoluble (forms a precipitate). Balanced equation: N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u S O 4 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pN a 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s )
Reaction b b) ( N H 4 ) 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C a C l 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p Possible products: N H 4 Cl and C a S O 4 .
According to solubility rules, N H 4 Cl is soluble and C a S O 4 is slightly soluble but generally considered soluble. Balanced equation: ( N H 4 ) 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C a C l 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N H 4 Cl ( a q ) + C a S O 4 ( a q )
Reaction c c) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p Possible products: N a N O 3 and C u C O 3 .
According to solubility rules, N a N O 3 is soluble and C u C O 3 is insoluble (forms a precipitate). Balanced equation: N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N a N O 3 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s )
Reaction d d) M g ( O H ) 2 ( s ) + H N O 3 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p Possible products: M g ( N O 3 ) 2 and H 2 O .
M g ( O H ) 2 is a solid, and H N O 3 is an acid. This is an acid-base neutralization reaction. Balanced equation: M g ( O H ) 2 ( s ) + 2 H N O 3 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pM g ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) + 2 H 2 O ( l )
Final Answer The predicted products for the double displacement reactions are: a) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u S O 4 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pN a 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s ) b) ( N H 4 ) 2 S O 4 ( a q ) + C a C l 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N H 4 Cl ( a q ) + C a S O 4 ( a q ) c) N a 2 C O 3 ( a q ) + C u ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 2 N a N O 3 ( a q ) + C u C O 3 ( s ) d) M g ( O H ) 2 ( s ) + 2 H N O 3 ( a q ) i g h t ha r p oo n u pM g ( N O 3 ) 2 ( a q ) + 2 H 2 O ( l )
Examples
Double displacement reactions are essential in various chemical processes, including water purification and the production of pharmaceuticals. For instance, in water treatment, these reactions can help remove harmful contaminants by forming insoluble precipitates that can be easily filtered out. Similarly, in the pharmaceutical industry, double displacement reactions are used to synthesize complex drug molecules by selectively combining different chemical compounds. Understanding and applying these reactions allows chemists to create new materials and improve existing processes, leading to advancements in various fields.
