Question

What happens when you combine silver nitrate with sodium chloride?

Answer 1

The solution will first form a white precipitate, then eventually turn black.

Explanation:

Combining silver nitrate `AgNO_3` with sodium chloride `NaCl` is a double replacement reaction. The positive and negative ions trade places. See the chemical reaction below

`Ag^+(aq) + NO_3^(-) (aq) + Na^(+)(aq) + Cl^(-)(aq) -> AgCl(s) + Na^(+)(aq) + NO_3^(-)(aq)`

The sodium ion `(Na^+)` and the nitrate ion `(NO_3^(-))` do not react and stay in the solution as spectator ions.

The silver ion `Ag^+` combines with the chloride ion `Cl^(-)` to form insoluble silver chloride (AgCl) which is white; it turns the solution black when the solute is exposed to light.