Final answer:
The solubility of Ag₂CO₃ and CuCO₃ can often be predicted by their Ksp values. Ag₂CO₃ has a known Ksp of 8.1 × 10^-12, and generally, a lower Ksp value indicates that the compound is less soluble. Therefore, it is likely that Ag₂CO₃ is the least soluble out of these two options.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following compounds, Ag₂CO₃ or CuCO₃, is the least soluble. Solubility can often be predicted by looking at solubility rules and the values of the solubility product, Ksp. Silver carbonate (Ag₂CO₃) and copper(II) carbonate (CuCO₃) are both slightly soluble compounds. According to solubility rules, most carbonate salts are insoluble in water, with the exception of those containing alkali metals and ammonium. For Ag₂CO₃, the solubility product constant (Ksp) is 8.1 × 10^-12 at 25˚C.
Since both Ag₂CO₃ and CuCO₃ are carbonates of similar solubility behavior, to determine which is less soluble, we must compare their respective Ksp values. A lower Ksp value signifies lower solubility. Based on available data, although the exact Ksp value for CuCO₃ is not given here, it is commonly found that the Ksp of Ag₂CO₃ is relatively lower than that of many other metal carbonates, which suggests that Ag₂CO₃ is typically the least soluble of the two compounds mentioned, assuming that CuCO₃ does not have an exceptionally low Ksp value.