What is selective precipitation? What are the conditions under which selective precipitation may occur?
When a solution contains a mixture of two cations (or a mixture of 2 anions), selective precipitation is used to precipitate only one of the two cations (or one of the two anions).
For example. a solution contains equal concentrations of ions and ions and if we want to selectively precipitate chloride ion, we can do so by dropwise addition of silver nitrate solution. Silver nitrate solution will provide silver ions which will combine with chloride ions to form white ppt of AgCl. If we add excess of silver nitrate solution then silver ions will combine with bromide ions to form ppt of AgBr.
Conditions for selective precipitation
(1) The solubility product of the salt of the ion to be precipitated should be more than the solubility product of other ion.
(2) Counter-ion should be added dropwise.
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