Final answer:
The combination of lead(II) acetate and hydrochloric acid forms lead(II) chloride, a solid precipitate, and acetic acid, which remains in solution. The correct answer to the student's question is A) Lead(II) chloride.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an aqueous solution of lead(II) acetate is combined with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, a double displacement reaction occurs. In this type of reaction, the cations and anions of the reactants switch partners, forming new compounds. The products of this reaction are lead(II) chloride and acetic acid.
The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
- Pb(C2H3O2)2(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + 2CH3COOH(aq)
Lead(II) chloride is an insoluble salt and therefore precipitates out of the solution as a solid, while acetic acid remains in the aqueous phase. This aligns with the fact that lead(II) chloride is insoluble in water and its formation drives the reaction to completion.