Question

When a solution of sodium sulphate and barium nitrate are mixed, sodium nitrate solution and solid barium sulphate are formed?

I cannot understand anything.

Answer 1

The question illustrates aqueous solubilities....

Explanation:

Water is an exceptional solvent, and will dissolve MOST solutes.... All NITRATES are soluble. MOST SULFATES TEND to be soluble, except for barium sulfate, silver sulfate, calcium sulfate, silver sulfate, and lead sulfate. How do we know? How else but by experiment? And you have to learn selected aqueous solubilities. You will have been given a list of the solubilities you are expected to know, and you will have performed selected experiments on aqueous solubility on the given basis.

And so we start with sodium sulfate, A SOLUBLE sulfate, and barium nitrate...which of course is soluble. Why `"of course"`? And so-called `"metathesis"`, or `"partner exchange"`, occurs...

`Ba(NO_3)_2(aq) + Na_2SO_4(aq) rarr BaSO_4(s)darr + 2NaNO_3(aq)`

Barium sulfate is as soluble as a brick...and thus precipitates from solution.... Anyway, if you wish me (to try!) to clarify some issue, fire away...