How many grams of solid BaSO4 will form when Na2SO4 reacts with 25 mL of 0.50 M Ba(NO3)2? __ Ba(NO3)2 + __ Na2SO4  __ BaSO4 + __ NaNO3

1 Answer
Dec 14, 2014

The answer is #2.79g#.

Starting from the balanced chemical equation

#Ba(NO_3)_(2(aq)) + Na_2SO_(4(aq)) -> BaSO_(4(s)) + 2NaNO_(3(aq))#

Taking into consideration the solubility rules (more here: http://www.chem.sc.edu/faculty/morgan/resources/solubility/), we can see that #Ba(NO_3)_2#, #Na_2SO_4#, and #NaNO_3# will dissociate into their respective ions, which will lead to the reaction's net ionic equation

#Ba_((aq))^(2+) + SO_(4(aq))^(2-) -> BaSO_(4(s))#

Since sulfate compounds formed with #Ba^(2+)# cations are insoluble in water (only slightly soluble, #BaSO_4#'s #K_(sp)# being equal to #1.1 * 10^(-10)# ), this double-replacement reaction forms a precipitate, #BaSO_4#.

We know from the balanced chemical equation that the mole-to-mole ratio of #Ba(NO_3)_2# and #BaSO_4# is 1:1; that is, for every mole of barium nitrate used, one mole of barium sulfate is produced.

The number of barium nitrate moles can be determined from its molarity, #C = n/V#

#n_(Ba(NO_3)_2) = C * V = 0.500 M * 25.0 * 10^(-3) L = 0.012#

Knowing barium sulfate's molar mass (#233.3 g/(mol)#), and the number of moles produced, we get

#m_(BaSO_4) = n_(BaSO_4) * molarmass = 0.012 mol es * 233.3g/(mol e) = 2.79g#