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Predicting Precipitation

The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:

It is important to realize that this equilibrium is established in any aqueous solution containing Ca²⁺ and CO₃^2– ions, not just in a solution formed by saturating water with calcium carbonate. Consider, for example, mixing aqueous solutions of the soluble compounds sodium carbonate and calcium nitrate. If the concentrations of calcium and carbonate ions in the mixture do not yield a reaction quotient, Q, that exceeds the solubility product, K_sp, then no precipitation will occur. If the ion concentrations yield a reaction quotient greater than the solubility product, then precipitation will occur, lowering those concentrations until equilibrium is established (Q = K_sp). The comparison of Q to K_sp to predict precipitation is an example of the general approach to predicting the direction of a reaction. For the specific case of solubility equilibria:

Q < K_sp: the reaction proceeds in the forward direction (solution is not saturated; no precipitation observed)

Q > K_sp: the reaction proceeds in the reverse direction (solution is supersaturated; precipitation will occur)

In solutions containing two or more ions that may form insoluble compounds with the same counter ion, an experimental strategy called selective precipitation may be used to remove individual ions from the solution. By increasing the counter ion concentration in a controlled manner, ions in solution may be precipitated individually, assuming their compound solubilities are adequately different. In solutions with equal concentrations of target ions, the ion forming the least soluble compound will precipitate first (at the lowest concentration of counter ion). The other ions subsequently precipitate as their compound’s solubilities are reached.

Precipitation of Silver Halides

A solution contains 0.00010 mol of KBr and 0.10 mol of KCl per liter. AgNO₃ is gradually added to this solution. Which forms first, solid AgBr or solid AgCl?

The two equilibria involved are:

If the solution contained about equal concentrations of Cl^– and Br^–, then the silver salt with the smaller K_sp (AgBr) would precipitate first. The concentrations are not equal, however, so the [Ag⁺] at which AgCl begins to precipitate and the [Ag⁺] at which AgBr begins to precipitate must be calculated. The salt that forms at the lower [Ag⁺] precipitates first.

AgBr precipitates when Q = K_sp for AgBr

AgBr begins to precipitate when [Ag⁺] is 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M.

For AgCl:

AgCl precipitates when Q equals Ksp for AgCl (1.6  × 10^-10). When [Cl^–] = 0.10 M:

AgCl begins to precipitate when [Ag⁺] is 1.6  × 10^-9 M.

AgCl begins to precipitate at a lower [Ag⁺] than AgBr, so AgCl begins to precipitate first. Note the chloride ion concentration of the initial mixture was significantly greater than the bromide ion concentration, and so silver chloride precipitated first despite having a K_sp greater than that of silver bromide.

This text is adapted from Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Chapter 15.1: Precipitation and Dissolution.