We have seen that ions in aqueous solution are stabilized by the attractions between the ions and the water molecules. Why then do some pairs of ions in solution form precipitates?

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Jarrett Esparza

Chemistry

11 May, 15:00

We have seen that ions in aqueous solution are stabilized by the attractions between the ions and the water molecules. Why then do some pairs of ions in solution form precipitates?

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Aliya Levy · Answer 1

For a dissolving process, the intermolecular forces of attraction are taken into consideration. There are 3 forces of attraction involved in this process, attraction between solute-solute molecules, attraction between solvent-solvent molecules and attraction between solute-solvent molecules.

When a solute gets dissolved in solvent, there must be a break of solute-solute forces and solvent-solvent forces because then only solute-solvent forces comes into play. The forces of attraction between solute-solvent molecules must be greater than than the individual attraction between two molecules of solute and solvent.

The precipitate forms when the attraction between solute-solvent molecules is less than the solute-solute and solvent-solvent molecules.