SELF ASSESSMENT

1. Specify what ions are present in a solution upon dissolving each of the
following substances in water:
a) Li2CO3
b) (NH4)3PO4

2. Separate samples of a solution of an unknown salt are treated with dilute

solution of HBr, H2SO4, and NaOH. A precipitate forms in all three cases.
Which of the following cations could be present in the unknown salt solution:
K+, Pb2+, and Ba2+?

3. Magnesium carbonate are magnesium oxide are all white solids that react with
acidic solutions.
a) Write a balanced molecular equation and a net ionic equation for the
reaction that occurs when each substance reacts with a hydrochloric
acid solution.
b) By observing the reactions in part (a), how could you distinguish
between these two magnesium substances?
Answers:

1.
a) Li2CO3(aq) → 2 Li+(aq) + CO32-(aq)
b) (NH4)3PO4 → 3 NH4+(aq) + PO43-(aq)

2. Only Pb2+ could be present.

3.
a) Molecular equation:
MgCO3(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Net ionic equation:
MgCO3(s) + 2 H+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Molecular equation:
MgO(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
Net ionic equation:
MgO(s) + 2 H+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2O(l)

b) We can distinguish MgCO3 because its reaction with acid produces CO2(g),
which apprear as bubbles.