Write net ionic equations for the reaction, if any, that occurs when aqueous solutions of the following are mixed. a. chromium(III) chloride and sodium hydroxide b. silver nitrate and ammonium carbonate c. copper(II) sulfate and mercury(1) nitrate d. strontium nitrate and potassium iodide

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances, the reactants, are transformed into one or more different substances, known as products. Reactions are driven by the rearrangement of atoms and the making and breaking of chemical bonds. Understanding the types of chemical reactions, like synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and combustion, is fundamental in predicting the products of a reaction.

For example, when mixing solutions in a lab, you might witness a color change, temperature change, gas production, or the formation of a solid, indicating that a chemical reaction has taken place. In the textbook exercises, such as the reaction of chromium(III) chloride with sodium hydroxide, signs of a chemical reaction include the formation of a solid precipitate. This transformation exemplifies the conversion of reactants into new products via a chemical reaction.

Precipitation reactions are a specific type of chemical reaction which result in the formation of an insoluble solid, known as a precipitate. When two aqueous solutions are mixed, if an insoluble compound can form from the cations and anions in the solutions, it will emerge as a solid from the liquid reaction mixture.

To predict whether a precipitation reaction will occur, one must consult the solubility rules, which are guidelines that indicate the solubility of various compounds in water. For instance, in the exercise where silver nitrate and ammonium carbonate are mixed, a solid precipitate of silver carbonate forms because silver carbonate is not soluble in water according to solubility rules. This reaction exemplifies the concept and helps students recognize which combinations of ions will lead to the formation of a precipitate.

Balancing chemical equations is an essential skill in chemistry that ensures the law of conservation of mass is obeyed in a chemical reaction. An equation is balanced when there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the reaction. It involves adjusting the coefficients that precede each chemical formula to achieve this balance without changing the subscripts in the formulas.

In practice, such as in the reaction between copper(II) sulfate and mercury(I) nitrate, one must ensure that the number of each type of ion on both sides is the same. When an equation is balanced, it accurately represents the conservation of matter and the stoichiometry of the reaction, which is critical for quantitative analysis and calculations in chemistry. The exercises provided offer students practical examples to apply their skills in balancing chemical equations.