DOUBLE REPLACEMENT REACTION

By: Darlene Grace L. Catabas

General Form of Double Replacement Reaction

(AX + BY AY + BX)
Double Replacement Reaction occurs when two compound/solution interchange their elements to form two new compounds. This reaction will also take place when two solutions are combined together. For the Double Replacement Reaction to happen you must consider the following evidences:

- Formation of precipitate(solid) - Production of gas - Water must be produced

In order for a double replacement reaction to take place, both of the reactants must be soluble in water. To tell if a compound is soluble, you have to read the solubility rules, shown below. SOLUBILITY RULES Rules 1. Nitrates and acetates are generally soluble. 2. Compounds of the alkali metals and the ammonium ion are generally soluble. 3. Chlorides, bromides, and iodides are generally soluble. 4. Sulfates are generally soluble. Exceptions No common ones. Silver acetate, mercurous acetate, and lead acetate are moderately soluble. No common ones. The halides of Ag1+, Hg22+, and Pb2+; also HgI2, BiOCl,and SbOCl. PbSO4, SrSO4, and BaSO4 are insoluble. CaSO4, Hg2SO4, and Ag2SO4 are moderately soluble. The corresponding bisulfates are more soluble. Those of the alkali metals and ammonium ion are soluble. Many acid phosphates are soluble, i.e., Mg(H2PO4)2 and Ca(H2PO4)2.

5. Carbonates, chromates, phosphates, and sulfites are generally insoluble.

6. Sulfides are generally insoluble.

7. Hydroxides are generally insoluble.

Those of the alkali metals and ammonium ion are soluble. The alkaline earth metals are soluble. Cr2S3 and Al2S3 decompose and precipitate as hydroxide Those of the alkali metals and ammonium ion are soluble. The hydroxides of Ba, Sr, and Ca are moderately soluble, i.e., Ca(OH)2 @20C = 0.02M (Consider theses strong electrolytes in water.) The hydroxide of Mg is only very lightly soluble, i.e. Mg(OH)2 @20C = 0.0002M (Consider this an insoluble substance.)

8. Almost all ionic compounds containing NO2-, ClO4-, ClO3-, ClO2-, and ClO- are soluble. 9. All inorganic acids are soluble. Solubility of organic acids is variable. *SOLUTIONS MADE FROM THE ABOVE SPECIES, WHEN SOLUBLE, ARE FOUND TO EXIST AS CHARGED PARTICLES AND THUS CONDUCT ELECTRIC CURRENT. SUMMARY OF STRONG AND WEAK ELECTROLYTES Rules Exceptions 1. Most acids are weak electrolytes Common strong acids (strong electrolytes) are HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO3, and HClO4 2. Most bases are weak electrolytes Strong base hydroxides (strong electrolytes) are those of Li, Na, K, Rb, Ca, Sr, and Ba. 3. Most soluble salts are strong Important weakly ionized salts are HgCl2, electrolytes. Hg(CN)2, CdCl2, CdBr2, CdI2, and Pb(C2H3O2)2. *WHEN A SPECIES IS LISTED AS A STRONG ELECTROLYTE, WRITE IT IN IONIZED FORM IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS. WEAK ELECTROLYTES ARE WRITTEN IN MOLECULAR FORM IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS.

In Double Replacement reaction, not all reactions will necessarily take place. If theres no formation of precipitate (solid), production of gas and water, and both reactants are soluble, then there will be no reaction takes place.

Examples:
1. Copper (II) Chloride + Hydrochloric Acid CaCl2(aq) + NaHCO3(aq) NaCl + Ca(HCO3)2 The Compound Ca(HCO3)2 can be broken down into CaCo3 + H2O + CO2. So the final answer will be: CaCl2(aq) + HCl(aq) NaCl + CaCo3 + H2O + CO2 On the given example, there are evidences shown such as the production of gas and water. So, there is a Double replacement reaction. 2. Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2 NaCl (aq) 2 NaNO3 (aq) + PbCl2 (s) The products are lead(II) chloride (insoluble) and sodium nitrate (soluble). Since one of the predicted products is insoluble, a precipite will produce.

3. KNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) NR The products that might form, KCl(aq) and NaNO3(aq) are soluble, too, so there's no product formed, such as a gas or a solid, to drive the reaction forward.