Question

Aqueous solutions of the substance nickel(II) sulfate are bright green in color. If an aqueous solution of barium chloride is added to an aqueous solution of nickel(II) sulfate, a white precipitate of barium sulfate forms. From the information above, indicate one physical property of nickel(II) sulfate in solution.

Short answer

One physical property of nickel(II) sulfate in aqueous solution is its bright green color.

Step-by-step solution

From the given information, we know that aqueous solutions of the nickel(II) sulfate have a bright green color. #Step 2: Write down the identified physical property#

Based on the information provided, one physical property of nickel(II) sulfate in aqueous solution is the bright green color.

Key concepts

Aqueous Solutions

When we talk about aqueous solutions, we're referring to a solution where water is the solvent. This basically means that the substance, in this case, Nickel(II) Sulfate, dissolves in water to form a solution.

• The dissolved substance is called the solute, and the substance that makes it dissolve is the solvent.
• In aqueous solutions, the solvent is always water.
• These solutions can conduct electricity because ions are present.

A key thing to remember is that not all substances can dissolve in water to form an aqueous solution. Nickel(II) Sulfate, however, does dissolve, which is a fundamental understanding when analyzing its properties in solution.

Physical Properties

Physical properties are characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. For Nickel(II) Sulfate in an aqueous solution, the most notable physical property is its bright green color. While certain physical properties, like melting or boiling points, apply to all forms of a substance, others might be specific to when the substance is dissolved:

• Color: The distinct green color of Nickel(II) Sulfate in water is a key physical property. This doesn't change until a chemical reaction occurs.
• State: In solution form, Nickel(II) Sulfate is a liquid due to it being dissolved in water.
• Conductivity: The presence of ions means the solution can conduct electricity.

This property allows us to predict and identify Nickel(II) Sulfate among other substances.

Color Properties

The color of a substance in solution, especially for transition metals like Nickel(II) Sulfate, can provide significant insights about its composition and behavior.

• Nickel(II) sulfate's bright green color is due to the absorption of specific wavelengths of light.
• This colorful property is largely due to the presence of nickel ions, which influence the light absorption in the visible region.
• When a different compound, like barium chloride, is added to the solution, and a new substance forms, the precipitate will have a different color, often providing clues about the chemical reaction.

Understanding the color properties helps in identifying nickel compounds and predicting their chemical interactions. This becomes useful in processes like chemistry labs or industrial applications where precise identifications are necessary.