Name the white precipitate formed in the reaction of sodium sulphate and barium chloride.

The correct answer is Barium sulphate.

Key Points

• Barium sulphate (BaSO₄) is an inorganic compound.
• The white precipitate formed in the reaction between sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) and barium chloride (BaCl₂) is barium sulphate (BaSO₄).
• Na₂​SO₄​+BaCl_2​ → BaSO_4​ (white precipitate)+2NaCl
• Barium sulphate (BaSO₄) is insoluble in water, which causes it to form a white precipitate in this reaction.
• Sodium chloride (NaCl) remains in solution as it is soluble in water.
• Barium sulphate is used in X-ray imaging of the digestive system (barium meals or barium enemas), as it is opaque to X-rays.

Additional Information

• Barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)₂):
  • Ba(OH)₂ ​​ ^heating​ → BaO+H₂​O.
  • Barium hydroxide Ba(OH)2 decomposes upon heating to form barium oxide (BaO) and water (H2​O). 
• Sodium chloride (NaCl):
  • Sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt is a chemical compound with the formula NaCl.
  • It's made up of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) ions.
  • When sodium chloride dissolves in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions.
  • NaCl(s)→Na+(aq)+Cl−(aq). 
• Sodium oxide(Na₂O):
  • Sodium oxide is a chemical compound with the formula Na₂O.
  • It’s an ionic compound composed of sodium (Na) and oxygen (O).
  • Sodium oxide is typically formed by the direct reaction of sodium metal with oxygen.
  • 4Na(s)+O₂​(g)→2Na₂​O(s).