Question

For the following chemical reaction:

In the laboratory, a chemist mixed aqueous barium chloride with aqueous potassium oxide which produced solid barium oxide and aqueous potassium chloride

A. Write the complete balanced chemical equation, including phase labels.

B. Identify the type of reaction that has occurred.

C. Identify the indicator that tells you a chemical reaction has occurred.

Answer 1

A. The complete balanced chemical equation, including phase labels, for the reaction is:

BaCl2 (aq) + K2O (aq) → BaO (s) + 2KCl (aq)

B. The type of reaction that has occurred is a double displacement or metathesis reaction. In this reaction, the barium cations (Ba2+) and potassium anions (K+) exchange partners, resulting in the formation of solid barium oxide (BaO) and aqueous potassium chloride (KCl).

C. The indicator that tells you a chemical reaction has occurred is the formation of a solid precipitate. In this reaction, the solid barium oxide (BaO) that forms is a clear indication that a chemical reaction has occurred. Additionally, the fact that the reactants are aqueous and the products include both a solid and an aqueous solution also indicates a chemical reaction has taken place.