Final answer:
Adding nitric acid to a saturated solution of barium carbonate will increase the solubility of the salt. The formula for the expected precipitate when barium ions are precipitated in a water sample depends on the precipitating reagent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adding nitric acid (HNO3) to a saturated solution of barium carbonate will increase the solubility of the salt. Nitric acid is a strong acid and when added to the solution, it will increase the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). The increased acidity will cause the equilibrium between barium carbonate and barium ions to shift to the right, resulting in more barium ions being in solution.
The formula for the expected precipitate when barium ions are precipitated from a water sample can be determined by combining the barium ions (Ba²+) with the anions from the precipitating reagent:
- Sodium chloride (NaCl): Forms barium chloride (BaCl2) precipitate
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH): Forms barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2) precipitate
- Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4): Forms barium sulfate (BaSO4) precipitate