Multiple Choice
In the context of solubility rules, what does the phrase "like dissolves like" mean?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Solubility Rules
Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds will have a different solubility with a change in pH?
A
CaCO_3
B
KNO_3
C
BaSO_4
D
NaCl
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that solubility of a compound can be affected by pH if the compound contains an ion that can react with H\(\textsuperscript{+}\) or OH\(\textsuperscript{−}\) ions in solution, such as carbonate (CO\(\textsubscript{3}\[\textsuperscript{2−}\)) or sulfate (SO\(\textsubscript{4}\]\textsuperscript{2−}\)).
Step 2: Identify the ions in each compound: CaCO\(\textsubscript{3}\) contains Ca\(\textsuperscript{2+}\) and CO\(\textsubscript{3}\[\textsuperscript{2−}\), KNO\(\textsubscript{3}\) contains K\(\textsuperscript{+}\) and NO\(\textsubscript{3}\]\textsuperscript{−}\), BaSO\(\textsubscript{4}\) contains Ba\(\textsuperscript{2+}\) and SO\(\textsubscript{4}\)\(\textsuperscript{2−}\), and NaCl contains Na\(\textsuperscript{+}\) and Cl\(\textsuperscript{−}\).
Step 3: Recognize that carbonate ions (CO\(\textsubscript{3}\[\textsuperscript{2−}\)) can react with H\(\textsuperscript{+}\) ions to form bicarbonate (HCO\(\textsubscript{3}\]\textsuperscript{−}\)) or carbonic acid (H\(\textsubscript{2}\)CO\(\textsubscript{3}\)), which affects solubility with pH changes.
Step 4: Note that nitrate (NO\(\textsubscript{3}\[\textsuperscript{−}\)), sulfate (SO\(\textsubscript{4}\]\textsuperscript{2−}\)), and chloride (Cl\(\textsuperscript{−}\)) ions do not significantly react with H\(\textsuperscript{+}\) or OH\(\textsuperscript{−}\) ions, so their solubility is generally independent of pH.
Step 5: Conclude that CaCO\(\textsubscript{3}\) will have solubility that changes with pH due to the carbonate ion's acid-base chemistry, while KNO\(\textsubscript{3}\), BaSO\(\textsubscript{4}\), and NaCl will not show significant solubility changes with pH.
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