One way the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests for chloride contaminants in water is by titrating a sample of silver nitrate solution. Any chloride anions in solution will combine with the silver cations to produce bright white silver chloride precipitate. Suppose an EPA chemist tests a sample of groundwater known to be contaminated with nickel(II) chloride, which would react with silver nitrate solution like this:

6.5 mg/L.

Explanation:

Step one: write out and Balance the chemical reaction in the Question above:

NiCl2 + 2AgNO3 > 2AgCl + Ni(NO3)2.

Step two: Calculate or determine the number of moles of AgCl.

So, we are given that the mass of AgCl = 3.6 mg = 3.6 × 10^-3 g. Therefore, the number of moles of AgCl can be calculated as below:

Number of moles AgCl = mass/molar mass = 3.6 × 10^-3 g / 143.32. = 2.5118 × 10^-5 moles.

Step three: Calculate or determine the number of moles of NiCl2.

Thus, the number of moles of NiCl2 = 2.5118 × 10^-5/ 2 = 1.2559 × 10^-5 moles.

Step four: detemine the mass of NiCl2.

Therefore, the mass of NiCl2 = number of moles × molar mass = 1.2559 × 10^-5 moles × 129.6 = 1.6 × 10^-3 g.

Step five: finally, determine the concentration of NiCl2.

1000/ 250 × 1.6 × 10^-3 g. = 6.5 mg/L.