Let's analyze the given chemical reaction:
[tex]$
2 NaCl (aq) + CuSO_4 (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + CuCl_2 (s)
$[/tex]
1. Identify the Reactants and Products:
- Reactants: Sodium chloride ([tex]\(NaCl\)[/tex]) and copper sulfate ([tex]\(CuSO_4\)[/tex])
- Products: Sodium sulfate ([tex]\(Na_2SO_4\)[/tex]) and copper chloride ([tex]\(CuCl_2\)[/tex])
2. Understand the Nature of the Reaction:
- In this reaction, the ions present in the reactants switch places to form new products. Specifically, the sodium ([tex]\(Na^+\)[/tex]) and chloride ([tex]\(Cl^-\)[/tex]) from [tex]\(NaCl\)[/tex] pair up with the sulfate ([tex]\(SO_4^{2-}\)[/tex]) and copper ([tex]\(Cu^{2+}\)[/tex]) from [tex]\(CuSO_4\)[/tex].
- Specifically, the exchange of ions results in the formation of sodium sulfate ([tex]\(Na_2SO_4\)[/tex]) from the [tex]\(Na^+\)[/tex] and [tex]\(SO_4^{2-}\)[/tex] ions, and copper chloride ([tex]\(CuCl_2\)[/tex]) from the [tex]\(Cu^{2+}\)[/tex] and [tex]\(Cl^-\)[/tex] ions.
3. Classify the Type of Reaction:
- Synthesis Reaction: This involves two or more simple substances combining to form a more complex substance. This is not what's happening here.
- Decomposition Reaction: A single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances. This is not the case here.
- Single Replacement Reaction: One element replaces another element in a compound. This involves the action like [tex]\(A + BC \rightarrow AC + B\)[/tex]. This does not fit our reaction since both of the compounds are interchanging ions.
- Double Replacement Reaction: Two compounds react and exchange their ions to form two new compounds. This fits our reaction perfectly where [tex]\(NaCl\)[/tex] and [tex]\(CuSO_4\)[/tex] exchange their ions to form [tex]\(Na_2SO_4\)[/tex] and [tex]\(CuCl_2\)[/tex].
Therefore, the reaction represented by the given equation is a double replacement reaction.
