Question detail
When preparing a soluble salt from an acid and an insoluble reactant, why is the insoluble solid added in excess?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Reactions of acids
Question
When preparing a soluble salt from an acid and an insoluble reactant, why is the insoluble solid added in excess?
Answer
The insoluble solid is added in excess to ensure that all the acid reacts, allowing for complete neutralisation. This also helps to filter out any unreacted solid after the reaction.
Explanation
This question assesses the student's understanding of the preparation of soluble salts and the reasoning behind using excess reactants. It encourages critical thinking about the practical aspects of the reaction.
Common mistake
Incorrectly balancing the equation for soluble salt preparation
Students often write the balanced symbol equation for a soluble salt preparation as 2NaCl + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2HCl, treating the acid as a reactant and the salt as a product, but they forget that the acid is consumed and the salt is produced
The correct balanced symbol equation for preparing a soluble salt from an acid and an insoluble metal salt is: 2NaCl + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2HCl. The acid reacts with the insoluble metal salt to produce the soluble salt (Na2SO4) and hydrogen chloride gas. Ensure the coefficients satisfy the conservation of atoms and that the acid is on the reactant side and the soluble salt on the product side.
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