A dilute solution of an unknown ionic compound must be identified. Several experiments are run on solutions that contain the possible ions with the results tabulated below. Cation Addition of HCl Heated in hot water Ag+ White precipitate is formed No observable change Pb+2 White precipitate is formed Precipitate dissolves Zn+2 No observable change No observable change Anion Addition of Ca(NO3)2 Addition of HNO3 CO3–2 White precipitate is formed Precipitate dissolves and bubbles form PO4–3 White precipitate is formed Precipitate dissolves A white precipitate is formed when HCl is added to the unknown compound. When the white precipitate is heated in hot water, it does not dissolve. A white precipitate is formed when Ca(NO3)2 is added to the unknown compound. When HNO3 is added to the precipitate, it dissolves and bubbles are formed. What is the chemical formula of the unknown ionic compound?

The chemical formula of the unknown ionic compound is Ag₂CO₃.

Explanation:

The method used to identify the ions present in a given solution of an unknown compound is known as qualitative analysis. Specific tests are carried based on the chemical reaction of these ions and the results they give in these reactions, the ions present innthe compound are identified. Some of the results or observations include formation of precipitates on addition of certain reagents, evolution of gases, colour changes, as well as the color changes that are observed in a flame test of a solutionmof these compounds.

In the given question, when testing for cations, a white precipitate is formed when HCl is added to the unknown compound. When the white precipitate is heated in hot water, it does not dissolve.

From the table of observations, both Ag+ and Pb²+ give a white precipitate on addition of HCl but Zn²+ does not. So the cation present is either Ag+ or Pb²+. However, when heated in hot water, the white precipitate does not dissolve as will be observed if Ag+ were the cation present. Thus, the cation is Ag+.

When testing for anions, a white precipitate is formed when Ca(NO3)2 is added to the unknown compound and when HNO3 is added to the precipitate, it dissolves and bubbles are formed.

Now comparing these results with that as observed with CO₃²- and PO₄³-, both form white precipitates on addition of Ca(NO₃)₂, and the precipitate dissolves on addition of HNO₃. However, only CO₃²- dissolves with the production of bubbles when HNO₃ is added. Thus, the anion is CO₃²-.

Therefore, the compound is Ag₂CO₃ which is formed from the cation Ag+ and CO₃²-.