

Substances with relatively large solubilities are said to be soluble. The extent to which a substance may be dissolved in water, or any solvent, is quantitatively expressed as its solubility, defined as the maximum concentration of a substance that can be achieved under specified conditions. Precipitation reactions also play a central role in many chemical analysis techniques, including spot tests used to identify metal ions and gravimetric methods for determining the composition of matter (see the last section of this chapter).

They are used widely in industry for production of a number of commodity and specialty chemicals. These reactions are common in nature and are responsible for the formation of coral reefs in ocean waters and kidney stones in animals. Many reactions of this type involve the exchange of ions between ionic compounds in aqueous solution and are sometimes referred to as double displacement, double replacement, or metathesis reactions. Precipitation Reactions and Solubility RulesĪ precipitation reaction is one in which dissolved substances react to form one (or more) solid products. This chapter will provide an introduction to three of the most prevalent types of chemical reactions: precipitation, acid-base, and oxidation-reduction. Faced with a wide range of varied interactions between chemical substances, scientists have likewise found it convenient (or even necessary) to classify chemical interactions by identifying common patterns of reactivity.

When they exchange blows with their fists or feet, we say they are fighting. When two humans exchange information, we say they are communicating. Humans interact with one another in various and complex ways, and we classify these interactions according to common patterns of behavior.
