Question

What kind of chemical reaction is shown? `AgNO_3 + NaCl -> AgCl + NaNO_3`

Answer 1

A `"metathesis"` or `"partner exchange"` reaction.

Explanation:

This reaction is typically performed in aqueous solution, in which `AgCl` is about as soluble as a brick.

So we could write:

`AgNO_3(aq) + NaCl(aq) rarr AgCl(s)darr + NaNO_3(aq)`

Alternatively, we could write a net ionic equation:

`Ag^(+) + Cl^(-) rarr AgCl(s)darr`

In both equations, charge is balanced as well as mass, as indeed they must be.