Precipitation Reactions | Semester 1, Unit 4

LAB 4:
PRECIPITATION REACTIONS
WITH EXTENSION
NOTE TO STUDENTS: This is a dry lab. You are only expected to perform the portions of this lab that do not require you
to use laboratory equipment or supplies. When appropriate, sample data may be supplied in the lab’s data tables to help
you answer the questions.

Goals (BaSO4) precipitate. The nitrate anions (NO3–)

1. Gain a better understanding of double
replacement reactions
2. Learn that reactions go to completion
when one of the products is removed
and sodium cations (Na+) remain in solution.
Chemical reactions will go to
completion (go completely to the right)
when one of the products leaves the solution.
One way this can happen in liquid solutions is
by precipitation, as in Equation 4.1.

Materials and Equipment Procedure

Reagents: 1. Put three drops of Ca(NO3)2 in wells A1
0.1 M calcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2 through A4, three drops of Cu(NO3)2 in
0.1 M copper nitrate, Cu(NO3)2 wells B1-B4, three drops of Ni(NO3)2 in
0.1 M nickel nitrate, Ni(NO3)2 wells C1-C4, and three drops of Zn(NO3)2
0.1 M potassium iodide, KI in wells D1-D4.
0.1 M potassium hydroxide, KOH
0.1 M sodium oxalate, Na2C2O4 2. Put three drops of KI in wells A1 through
0.1 M sodium sulfate, Na2SO4 D1 (the first column), three drops of KOH
0.1 M zinc nitrate, Zn(NO3)2 in wells A2-D2, three drops of Na2C2O4 in
96-well reaction plate wells A3-D3, and three drops of Na2SO4
Goggles in wells A4-D4.

Introduction 3. A chemical reaction is indicated if there

is a change in color or if a precipitate
The double replacement reaction is (a fine solid) is formed. Record these
an important type of reaction. An example changes in Table 4.1.
is the reaction between barium nitrate and
sodium sulfate: 4. Clean the reaction plate immediately. It
may be difficult to clean if you wait.
(Equation 4.1) Ba(NO3)2(aq) +
5. On a separate sheet of paper, write a
Na2SO4(aq) → 2NaNO3(aq) + BaSO4(s)
balanced chemical equation for each
double replacement reaction that occurs.
This is a double replacement reaction
since barium ions have replaced sodium
ions and sodium ions have replaced barium
ions. They have changed places.
Barium nitrate and sodium sulfate are
both soluble in water. However, because
barium sulfate is insoluble, barium cations
(Ba2+) and sulfate anions (SO42–) join to form
small particles of insoluble barium sulfate
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Figure 4.1

Na 4
2O

O4
2C

2S
H
KO

Na
KI
Ca(NO3)2

Cu(NO3)2

Ni(NO3)2

Zn(NO3)2

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 Precipitation Reactions

LAB 4
Questions for Precipitation Reactions

Table 4.1

KI KOH Na2C2O4 Na2SO4

Faint white
Ca(NO3)2 NR
prec.*
White prec. NR

Cu(NO3)2 Brown prec. Blue prec. Blue prec. NR

Light blue-green Very faint blue

Ni(NO3)2 NR prec. prec. NR

Zn(NO3)2 Milky white Faint white NR

NR
prec. prec.*

*Note: These reactions are very slow, so it is possible you did not see a change in the time given.
1. Write a balanced chemical equation for each double replacement reaction that occurs.
Note: Compounds with Na+, K+, and/or NO3− are soluble.

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2. Why was there no reaction in some of the wells? (See Introduction.)

3. How could you tell a Ca(NO3)2 solution from a Zn(NO3)2 solution?

4. How could you tell a Cu(NO3)2 solution from a Ni(NO3)2 solution?

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