What is the chemical equation for aqueous sodium chloride and aqueous silver nitrate react to form solid silver chloride and aqueous sodium nitrate?

1 Answer
Nov 8, 2016

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

Explanation:

This reaction is commonly used to illustrate basic solubility rules, and solubility equilibria.

All nitrates are soluble, hence silver nitrate is soluble; and all halides are soluble, EXCEPT for #AgX#, #PbX_2#, and #Hg_2X_2#.

Thus silver nitrate is soluble, but silver chloride precipitates from solution as a curdy white solid.

We write the net ionic equation as:

#Ag^(+) + X^(-) rarr AgX(s)darr#

Silver chloride is a curdy white solid; silver bromide is a creamy yellow; and silver iodide is bright yellow. (On standing the silver halides tend to reduce to silver metal, and the precipitates darken.)