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Copper(ii) nitrate was dissolved in water to form an aqueous solution. Aqueous sodium hydroxide formed a light blue precipitate. What is the formula?

User Oposum
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Answer:

Cu(OH)₂ ⇒ copper(II) hydroxide

Step-by-step explanation:

Copper(II) nitrate (Cu(NO₃)₂) dissociates into ions in an aqueous solution to form Cu²⁺ ions and NO₃⁻ (nitrate) ions. If the aqueous solution contains sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which dissociates into Na⁺ and OH⁻ ions, a precipitate is formed from Cu²⁺ and OH⁻ ions. The precipitation reaction is the following:

Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 NaOH(aq) → Cu(OH)₂(s) + 2 NaNO₃(aq)

The light blue precipitated formed is copper (II) hydroxide (Cu(OH)₂), because it is an insoluble solid product.

User Iamtankist
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