Interesting Chemistry

The knowledge on chemistry I gained today was very interesting, but there were still some pieces that were unclear so I decided to investigate the missing pieces. Precipitate reactions are those in which two soluble solutions are mixed together to form a liquid and a solid in which the solid in insoluble. This solid is a salt that is submerged in the liquid and does not dissolve. This salt is also known as the precipitate. Then there are solubility rules for ionic compounds. What could they be? Turns out they are rules that dictate the solubility of ionic compounds in water. There are many rules stating which elements form precipitates and which ones do not. For example, let’s say you mix any Group 1 elements with another element in water. There are rules stating that all Group 1 elements are always soluble therefore you know that the solution is going to be one of no reaction and no precipitate will form. However there are other rules that state that some elements such as chloride will form a precipitate when mixed with elements such as lead. Now on to acids and bases. Acids and bases can be really hazardous to human tissue since they can easily break it down. Acids and bases can be both corrosive. The more concentrated they are the more corrosive they are. Acids are things such as lemon juice, vinegar, and carbonated drinks. Bases can be baking soda, lime, and ammonia. When Acids are dissolved in water they form Hydrogen ions while Bases form Hydroxide ions. When an acid and a base are mixed together they neutralize themselves and form water. Here is a way of being able to recognize an acid or a base just by looking at the chemical formula. If the chemical formula contains an H, for hydrogen, or and OH, for hydroxide, then you should be pondering if this chemical formulae is an acid or a base. Now if it does contain and H or OH look at the next letter, if it is a metal then the chemical formula means the element is a base. If the letter next to it is a nonmetal then it is an acid. Of course there are exceptions to this rule but these rules cover most chemical formulas.