Precipitation Experiment

Aims: To observe some precipitation reactions

To deduce the formula of precipitates
Method:
1. Read through the risk assessment for this experiment: note the staining risk of silver
nitrate.
2. Place the acetate sheet on a white piece of paper on the bench beside the spotting tile.
3. Place one drop of calcium chloride in each of the cells in the first row of the tile
and/or acetate sheet.
4. Repeat for the other ions in the other two rows.
5. Repeat step 3 for each solution in the vertical rows: ensure the dropper bottle does
not touch the first drop.
6. Write a small tick in each of the cells where precipitation is seen
7. Carefully slide out the white paper and add ticks to any more cells where precipitation
is seen
8. Pack up the equipment and dispose of the used chemicals as instructed
9. Analyse the results

Solutions and ions Barium nitrate Sodium carbonate Silver nitrate

Calcium chloride

Copper sulfate

Sodium hydroxide

Zinc nitrate
 Precipitation Experiment analysis

1. Write the ions present in the space below the name of each chemical on the paper
copy of the worksheet.
2. Use the solubility rules to determine the formula of each precipitate that formed.
3. Write a word equation for each reaction.
4. Extension: write a balanced chemical equation for one reaction from each column of
the grid.

Solubility Rules

Soluble (exceptions are INSOLUBLE) Insoluble (exceptions are SOLUBLE)

- Group 1 (Li+, Na+, K+ (potassium)) and - Carbonates (CO32-) and Phosphates (PO43-)
ammonium compounds (except Group 1 (Li+, Na+, K+) and
ammonium compounds)
- Nitrates (NO3-)
- Hydroxides (OH-1) (except Group I,
- + 2+
- Chlorides, Cl (except Ag (silver) Pb ammonium, Ba2+)
Hg2+)

- Sulphates (SO4 2- ) (except Ag+ Pb2+ Hg2+

Ba2+ barium)
Solutions Barium nitrate Sodium Silver nitrate
carbonate

Calcium chloride

Copper sulfate

Sodium hydroxide

Zinc nitrate