Reaction of Sodium sulphate with barium chloride in the form of their solutions in water - Lab Work

Reaction of Sodium sulphate with barium chloride in the form of their solutions in water and classify it as physical or chemical changes

Aim

To carry out the reaction of Sodium sulphate with barium chloride in the form of their solutions in water it as physical or chemical changes

Theory
Physical Change: These changes can be observed and take place without changing the composition of substances. There are no changes in chemical nature of substance. The changes which can be observed are like change in colour, boiling point, melting point, hardness, density, fluidity, rigidity etc. The interconversion of states of matter is also a physical change.

Chemical change: In this change, chemical reaction takes place and completely a new substance with different properties is formed. There are changes in chemical properties and composition of substance.
ex: 2Mg(s) + O₂(g) → 2MgO(s)
Here, the chemical composition and properties of product MgO is totally different from its reactants Mg and O.

Chemicals Required
Barium Chloride solution(BaCl₂), Sodium Sulphate Solution(Na₂SO₄), Dil. Hydrochloric acid(HCl)

Apparatus Required
Glass Rod, Conical Flask, Test tubes
 
Procedure 
Step 1: A small amount of barium chloride solution is taken in a test tube and poured into a conical flask.
Step 2: Then a small amount of sodium sulphate solution is taken in another test tube and added into barium chloride solution taken in the conical flask.
Step3: Both the contents of the conical flask is stirred with the help of glass rod and left undisturbed for some time.
Step 4:  After some time, small amount of dil. HCl is added to the precipitate in the conical flask for better result.

Observation
On adding sodium sulphate to barium chloride, white precipitate is immediately formed which is insoluble in dil.HCl.

Inference
1. Sodium sulphate chemically reacts with barium chloride in the form of their aqueous solution to form a white precipitate of barium sulphate.

           Na₂SO₄(aq)  +   BaCl₂(aq)  →  BaSO₄(s)   +   2NaCl(aq)
                                                     (White precipitate)

 2. This is a double displacement reaction in which sulphate ions are displaced by chloride ions and vice-versa.
3. The products formed are different from the reactants in chemical composition and chemical properties thus this is the case o chemical change.

Precautions
1. The chemicals should be used carefully.
2. Keep the mouth away from the test tubes.
3. Handle acids and alkalies carefully.

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