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Ch.17 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibria
Chapter 17, Problem 99

For each of the following compounds, write a balanced net ionic equation for the dissolution of the compound in water, and write the equilibrium-constant expression for Ksp. (d) Hg2Cl2

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Identify the compound: Hg2Cl2 is mercury(I) chloride, which is a sparingly soluble salt in water.
Write the dissolution equation: When Hg2Cl2 dissolves in water, it dissociates into its ions. The balanced equation is: Hg2Cl2(s) ⇌ Hg2^2+(aq) + 2Cl^-(aq).
Write the net ionic equation: Since Hg2Cl2 is a solid and does not appear in the net ionic equation, the net ionic equation is the same as the dissolution equation: Hg2Cl2(s) ⇌ Hg2^2+(aq) + 2Cl^-(aq).
Define the solubility product constant (Ksp): The Ksp expression is based on the concentrations of the ions in the solution at equilibrium.
Write the Ksp expression: For the dissolution of Hg2Cl2, the Ksp expression is Ksp = [Hg2^2+][Cl^-]^2, where [Hg2^2+] and [Cl^-] are the molar concentrations of the ions at equilibrium.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Net Ionic Equations

A net ionic equation represents the chemical species that are involved in a reaction, excluding spectator ions that do not participate in the reaction. In the context of dissolution, it shows the ions that form when a compound dissolves in water, highlighting the actual chemical change occurring in the solution.
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Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)

The solubility product constant (Ksp) is an equilibrium constant that applies to the dissolution of sparingly soluble ionic compounds. It quantifies the extent to which a compound can dissolve in water, expressed as the product of the molar concentrations of the ions, each raised to the power of their coefficients in the balanced dissolution equation.
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Dissociation of Ionic Compounds

Dissociation refers to the process by which an ionic compound separates into its constituent ions when dissolved in water. For example, when mercurous chloride (Hg2Cl2) dissolves, it dissociates into mercury (I) ions and chloride ions, which is essential for writing the net ionic equation and determining the Ksp expression.
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