Question

A chemist dissolves silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in water. He also dissolves ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) in water. He mixes the two solutions. A precipitate of silver chloride (AgCl) forms. Which chemical equation correctly represents this reaction?

a. AgNO₃(s) + NH₄Cl(s)
`\rightarrow` AgCl(s) + NH₄NO₃(s)
b. AgNO₃(aq) + NH₄Cl(aq)
`\rightarrow` AgCl(aq) + NH₄NO₃(aq)
c. AgNO₃(aq) + NH₄Cl(aq)
`\rightarrow` AgCl(s) + NH₄NO₃(aq)

Answer 1

c. AgNO₃(aq) + NH₄Cl(aq) ->AgCl(s) + NH₄NO₃(aq)

Step-by-step explanation:

We have to follow the solubility rules to check the states of each compound.

-) All the cholride salts are soluble EXCEPT those also containing: lead, silver or mercury.
`Pb^+2~Ag^+~Hg_2^+^2`

-) All the nitrate
`NO_3` and ammonium salts
`NH_4^+` are soluble.

With this in mind
`AgNO_3`,
`NH_4Cl` and
`NH_4NO_3` would be soluble, so we have to use the aqueosus state (aq).

The
`AgCl` then would have a solid state (s).