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The Common-Ion Effect

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  • Page ID
    3068

    • Chemical Concept Demonstrated

    • Common-ion effect

    Demonstration

    AgNO3 and NaOAc are added to a beaker of water, and the solution is filtered.
    • The crystallizing dishes are half-filled with the filtrate.
    • AgNO3 is added to the first dish.
    • NaOAc is added to the second.
    		 common.gif

    Observations

    AgOAc precipitates in both dishes.

    Explanation (including important chemical equations)

    The common-ion effect is the decrease in the solubility of a salt that occurs when the salt is dissolved in a solution that contains another source of one of its ions. The filtrate is a saturated solution of Ag+ and OAc- ions. When either AgNO3 or NaOAc is added to the filtrate, the solubility of the ions in the saturated solution decreases, and the Ag + and OAc- ions crash out as AgOAc.

    AgNO3 (aq) + OAc - (aq) <=> AgOAc (s)

    NaOAc (aq) + Ag + (aq) <=> AgOAc (s)

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