The heat of precipitation is the energy change when one mole of precipitate is formed from its ion.
- Precipitation reaction occurs when two solutions containing cations and anions of insoluble salts added together.
- This reaction is known as the double decomposition reaction and is used to prepare any insoluble salt.
- The heat of precipitation is the energy change when one mole of precipitate is formed from its ion.
- For the heat of precipitation, it can be an exothermic or endothermic reaction.
- The example below shows how the heat of precipitation can be calculated from the result of an experiment.
Example:
In an experiment to find the heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate, 25 cm³ of magnesium nitrate 2.0 mol/dm³ is added into 25 cm³ of sodium carbonate solution, 2.0 mol dm³ in a container. The temperature of the solution decreases by 6°C. What is the heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate? [Specific heat capacity of the solution = 4.2 Jg-1°C-1;; density of the solution =1 g/cm³ ]
Answer:
Step 1: Equation of the reaction
Mg(NO3)2 + Na2CO3 → MgCO3 + 2NaNO3
Step 2:
Number of mole of Mg(NO3)2
n=MV1000n=(2.0)(25)1000n=0.05mol
Number of mole of Na2CO3 solution
n=MV1000n=(2.0)(25)1000n=0.05mol
Number of mole of magnesium carbonate formed = 0.05mol
Step 3
Amount of heat energy been released
= mcθ
= (25+25)(4.2)(6)
= 1260J
= 1260J
Step 4
The heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate
ΔH=Heat ChangeNumber of mole of precipitate form=12600.05=25200Jmol–1=25.2kJmol–1