Practical: Prepare Lead(II)Sulfate (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)

Practical: Prepare Lead(II) Sulfate

Spec point — practical: prepare a sample of pure, dry lead(II) sulfate

Aim

• To prepare a dry sample of lead(II) sulfate
• The solid salt obtained is the precipitate, thus in order to successfully use this method the solid salt being formed must be insoluble in water, and the reactants must be soluble

Diagram

Preparation of an insoluble salt via precipitation

The preparation of lead(II)sulfate by precipitation from two soluble salts

Method

1. Measure out 25 cm³ of 0.5 mol dm^-3 lead(II)nitrate solution and add it to a small beaker
2. Measure out 25 cm³ of 0.5 mol dm^-3 of potassium sulfate add it to the beaker and mix together using a stirring rod
3. Filter to remove precipitate from mixture
4. Wash filtrate with distilled water to remove traces of other solutions
5. Leave in an oven to dry

Soluble salt 1 = lead(II) nitrate

Soluble salt 2 = potassium sulfate

lead(II) nitrate + potassium sulfate → lead(II) sulfate + potassium nitrate

Pb(NO₃)₂(aq) + K₂SO₄(aq) → PbSO₄(s) + 2KNO₃(aq)

Exam Hint Care should be taken with handling lead salts as they are toxic.