Disable ads (and more) with a premium pass for a one time $4.99 payment
When sulfate ions react with barium chloride in the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid, barium sulfate is formed as a precipitate. This compound appears as a white solid due to its low solubility in water. In the reaction, the sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) from the source react with barium ions (Ba²⁺) from barium chloride (BaCl₂) to produce barium sulfate (BaSO₄), which precipitates out of the solution.
The reaction can be summarized as follows:
Ba²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → BaSO₄(s)
A key feature of barium sulfate is its insolubility, which leads to the formation of a visible white precipitate. In dilute hydrochloric acid, the presence of hydrochloric acid does not interfere with this reaction; instead, it helps maintain the ionic balance in the solution.
The other answer choices represent precipitates of different colors that would not occur in this specific reaction under the conditions described. Therefore, the formation of a white precipitate is the correct understanding of the outcome when sulfate ions interact with barium chloride in this context.