Final answer:
No precipitate will form when ZnSO₄ (aq) and MgCl₂ (aq) are mixed because the potential products, ZnCl₂ and MgSO₄, are both soluble in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ZnSO₄ (aq) and MgCl₂ (aq) are mixed, no precipitate will form because all possible products of these two compounds are soluble in water. Zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) consists of Zn²⁺ and SO₄²⁺ ions, while magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) contains Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. In a double displacement reaction, the possible products would be ZnCl₂ and MgSO₄.
Both of these compounds are soluble due to the solubility rules that dictate chlorides and sulfates tend to be soluble except with certain cations, which do not include Zn²⁺ or Mg²⁺. Therefore, since no insoluble combinations are formed, there is no precipitate.