Question

A compound is known to be Na2CO3, Na2SO4, NaOH, NaCl, NaC2H3O2, or NaNO3. When a barium nitrate solution is added to a solution containing the unknown a white precipitate forms. No precipitate is observed when a magnesium nitrate solution is added to a solution containing the unknown. What is the identity of the unknown compound

Answer 1

Answer:

Na₂SO₄

Explanation:

Barium nitrate, Ba(NO₃)₂ produce precipitate with SO₄²⁻, CO₃²⁻. That means the precipitate could be obtained from Na₂SO₄ and Na₂CO₃.

Also, magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO₃)₂, produce precipitate just with CO₃²⁻. As the unknown solution produce no precipitate, the unknown compound is:

Na₂SO₄