Question

When barium nitrate and sodium phosphate are mixed together in water, a precipitate is formed. What is the most likely chemical formula for the precipitate? a) Ba(NO3)2 b) NaPO4 c) Ba3(PO4)2 d) NaNO3

Answer 1

The most likely chemical formula for the precipitate when barium nitrate reacts with sodium phosphate in water is Ba3(PO4)2, which is option c).

Step-by-step explanation:

When barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2) and sodium phosphate are mixed together in water, the most likely chemical formula for the precipitate formed is Ba3(PO4)2. This precipitate is known as barium phosphate. The balanced chemical reaction for the formation of this precipitate is:

3Ba(NO3)2(aq) + 2 Na3PO4 (aq) → Ba3(PO4)2 (s) + 6NaNO3(aq)

In this reaction, barium (Ba2+) combines with phosphate (PO43-) ions to form the insoluble compound barium phosphate, which precipitates out of solution. The correct answer to the question is therefore option c) Ba3(PO4)2.

Answer 2

The precipitate formed when barium nitrate and sodium phosphate are mixed in water is barium phosphate, with the chemical formula Ba3(PO4)2.

Step-by-step explanation:

When barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2) and sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) are mixed together in a water solution, a double displacement reaction occurs leading to the formation of a precipitate. The chemical reaction can be represented as:

3Ba(NO3)2(aq) + 2Na3PO4 (aq) → Ba3(PO4)2 (s) + 6NaNO3(aq)

The precipitate formed in this reaction is barium phosphate, with the chemical formula Ba3(PO4)2. This solid is produced because barium phosphate is relatively insoluble in water, which makes it precipitate out of the solution. Therefore, the most likely chemical formula for the precipitate is answer option c) Ba3(PO4)2.