Determine whether each of the following compounds is soluble or insoluble:
Drag the appropriate items to their respective bins.
PbCl2 COCO3 BaSO4 Na3PO4
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To determine whether a compound is soluble or insoluble in water, we can use general solubility rules. Below are the solubility assessments for each compound you listed:
1. PbCl2 (Lead(II) chloride)
Solubility: Insoluble
Explanation: While most chloride salts are soluble in water, PbCl2 is an exception. It is considered only slightly soluble in water at room temperature. However, PbCl2 becomes more soluble in hot water. This compound is known to form a precipitate in cold water, making it largely insoluble at standard conditions.
2. COCO3 (Cobalt(II) carbonate)
Solubility: Insoluble
Explanation: Most carbonate salts, except those containing alkali metals (like Na2CO3, K2CO3) and ammonium ions (NH4+), are insoluble in water. Cobalt(II) carbonate (COCO3) follows this rule and is insoluble in water. The carbonate ion (CO3^2-) forms insoluble salts with most metal cations, including cobalt.
3. BaSO4 (Barium sulfate)
Solubility: Insoluble
Explanation: Barium sulfate is an example of a sulfate salt that is insoluble in water. While most sulfates (SO4^2-) are soluble, barium sulfate is an exception. It is highly insoluble, which is why it is often used in medical imaging for X-ray procedures (as a radiopaque contrast medium).
4. Na3PO4 (Sodium phosphate)
Solubility: Soluble
Explanation: Sodium salts, including Na3PO4 (sodium phosphate), are typically soluble in water. This is because sodium ions (Na+) are highly soluble, and phosphate salts with alkali metals (like sodium and potassium) are usually soluble in water.
Solubility Summary:
- Insoluble Compounds: PbCl2, COCO3, BaSO4
- Soluble Compound: Na3PO4
The solubility of salts is governed by specific patterns based on their ions. Compounds with alkali metal ions (like Na+) or ammonium (NH4+) are usually soluble. However, compounds containing sulfate, carbonate, and chloride ions can have exceptions depending on the accompanying metal ions.