Which reagent is used to test for chloride ions, and what is the appearance of the precipitate?

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Multiple Choice

Which reagent is used to test for chloride ions, and what is the appearance of the precipitate?

Explanation:
Silver nitrate is used to test for chloride ions because it reacts with chloride to form solid silver chloride, which appears as a white precipitate. The reaction is Ag+ + Cl− → AgCl(s). This white solid is characteristic of chloride tests (and the solution is usually acidified to avoid interference from silver hydroxide). Other reagents don’t give this same white precipitate for chloride, so they’re not the correct choice for identifying chloride ions.

Silver nitrate is used to test for chloride ions because it reacts with chloride to form solid silver chloride, which appears as a white precipitate. The reaction is Ag+ + Cl− → AgCl(s). This white solid is characteristic of chloride tests (and the solution is usually acidified to avoid interference from silver hydroxide). Other reagents don’t give this same white precipitate for chloride, so they’re not the correct choice for identifying chloride ions.

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