LAB -3-

Ionic Reaction

Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to study the effect of solubility of some ionic products
on the pathway of an ionic reaction. An ionic reaction is a process through which aqueous
ionic species react together to form a water insoluble product that falls out of solution and
can be isolated.
The general formula for an ionic reaction:
(m) An+ + (n) Bm-  AmBn (solid)

Example: Fe2+(aqueous) + CO32- (aqueous)  FeCO3 (insoluble precipitate)

We will study the ionic reaction between Cu++ cation (Cupric) with several anions

Materials:
An aqueous solution of CuSO4: The cation is Cu2+ and the Anion is SO42-
Concentration = 0.063 M
Aqueous test solutions:

NaCl aqueous solution; Concentration = [NaCl] = 0.086 M

NaOH aqueous solution; [NaOH] = 0.17 M
KOH aqueous solution; [KOH] = 0.057 M
NH4[FeIII(SO4)2] aqueous solution; concentration = 0.019 M
Na2WO4 aqueous solution; [Na2WO4] = 0.031 M
NaB4O7 aqueous solution; [NaB4O7] = 0.013 M

What is the anion in each salt?

Procedure:

Place 1.5 ml of the aqueous CuSO4 solution in 6 different test tubes inside a test
tube rack. To each test tube add a designated amount of the test solution and record your
results. Use the disposable plastic pipette to transfer the liquids.

NaCl: Add 1 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

 Which are the spectator ions?

NaOH: 0.5 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

Which are the spectator ions?

KOH: 1.5 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

Which are the spectator ions?

NH4[FeIII(SO4)2]: 1.5 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

Which are the spectator ions?

Na2WO4: 1.5 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

Which are the spectator ions?

NaB4O7: 1.5 ml

Do you form a precipitate? Yes No

Write the net ionic reaction if any?

Which are the spectator ions?

Which Copper salts are insoluble in water?

Conclusion:
 This experiment demonstrates that the solubility of the product determines the
path of an ionic reaction.