Final answer:
A precipitate forms when lithium carbonate is mixed with calcium chloride due to a double-replacement reaction that potentially creates insoluble compounds, predictable with solubility rules.
Step-by-step explanation:
When lithium carbonate is mixed with calcium chloride, a precipitate forms due to a double-replacement reaction. In such a reaction, cations and anions from different reactants exchange partners to create new compounds, some of which may be insoluble in water.
The formation of the precipitate can be predicted using solubility rules that determine the solubility of different ionic compounds in water. Lithium carbonate, when mixed with calcium chloride, is involved in a potential exchange of ions that could lead to the formation of a precipitate if one of the new compounds formed is insoluble.
Considering the principles described, and while the provided information uses barium chloride and lithium sulfate as examples, similar rules apply to the lithium carbonate and calcium chloride mixture.
The solubility rules would predict that if the exchange reaction forms an insoluble compound, then a precipitate will form. For example, if calcium carbonate forms, known for its low solubility in water, a precipitate would be expected based on the illustrated solubility rules.