What does sulfuric acid produce as a precipitate with water-soluble salts of barium?

Study for the MedCa Lab Assistant Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

When sulfuric acid is mixed with water-soluble salts of barium, it results in the formation of barium sulfate, which is an insoluble salt. The reaction can be represented by the following equation:

[ \text{Ba}^{2+} + \text{SO}_4^{2-} \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4 (s) ]

Barium sulfate is known for its distinctive white precipitate. This characteristic is due to the formation of a solid phase in the presence of a soluble barium salt and the sulfate ions from sulfuric acid. The white precipitate indicates a successful reaction between the soluble barium ions and sulfate ions, demonstrating the principle of solubility rules in inorganic chemistry.

In this context, the other colors associated with precipitates do not correspond to the compounds formed in this scenario. Thus, the presence of a white precipitate confirms the correct identification of the reaction outcome.

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