Precipitation reactions are always interesting. How about one that forms a precipitate using a gas? Chemists of any age will enjoy this twist on a standard solubility lab. Partners observe the lack of interaction between sodium hydroxide and barium nitrate, then produce carbon dioxide in the solution to see the formation of an insoluble salt.

Concepts

carbon dioxide, insolubility, solubility, precipitates, acids and bases, making observations

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the experiment to illustrate precipitation reactions and insoluble salts
• Ask pupils to predict what will happen when they add hydrochloric acid to the marble chips
  

Classroom Considerations

• Be sure that each working group has copies of the activity series and solubility rules to use as they work
• Substitute limestone if you do not have the marble chips called for in the procedure
  

Pros

• Reaction is easy to perform and clean up
• The teacher's guide contains solution prep directions and printable materials

Cons

• The title is somewhat misleading, as the included materials only show one reaction
  

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.9-10.3