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Multiple Choice
Which one of the following compounds is the most soluble in water?
A
NaNO_3
B
PbI_2
C
BaSO_4
D
AgCl
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand that solubility in water depends largely on the compound's ability to dissociate into ions and the lattice energy of the solid. Ionic compounds that dissociate completely and have lower lattice energies tend to be more soluble.
Step 2: Recognize that NaNO_3 (sodium nitrate) is an ionic compound composed of Na^+ and NO_3^- ions, both of which are highly soluble in water due to strong ion-dipole interactions with water molecules.
Step 3: Compare the other compounds: PbI_2, BaSO_4, and AgCl are all ionic but are known to have low solubility in water because of their high lattice energies and the formation of relatively insoluble salts.
Step 4: Recall the solubility rules: nitrates (NO_3^-) are generally soluble with no exceptions, while halides like AgCl and sulfates like BaSO_4 have limited solubility, and PbI_2 is also poorly soluble.
Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, NaNO_3 is the most soluble in water because it fully dissociates and follows the general solubility rules for nitrates.