Final answer:
The possible identity of the substance is sodium chloride. When sodium chloride dissolves in water and reacts with silver nitrate in the presence of nitric acid, it forms a yellow precipitate of silver chloride.
Step-by-step explanation:
The possible identity of the substance is option D, sodium chloride.
When a substance dissolves in water to form a colorless solution and reacts with aqueous silver nitrate in the presence of dilute nitric acid to give a yellow precipitate, it indicates the presence of chloride ions (Cl¯). This reaction is a classic example of a precipitation reaction, where an insoluble salt, silver chloride, is formed.
The balanced equation for the reaction that took place between the substance and silver nitrate is:
AgNO3 + NaCl + HNO3 → AgCl + NaNO3 + H2O