Which statement best describes the products of the reaction between calcium chloride and sodium phosphate?

Which statement best describes the products of the reaction between calcium chloride and sodium phosphate?

• A. Calcium phosphate and sodium chloride
• B. Calcium phosphate
• C. Sodium chloride
• D. Calcium chloride

Answer: (A)

This is a double displacement reaction where ions in solution swap partners. Calcium ions from calcium chloride meet phosphate ions from sodium phosphate to form calcium phosphate, which is not very soluble in water and thus precipitates as a solid. The sodium ions pair with chloride ions to produce sodium chloride, which stays dissolved in the solution. So you get a solid calcium phosphate plus dissolved sodium chloride. A balanced version of the equation shows the same idea: 3 CaCl2 + 2 Na3PO4 → Ca3(PO4)2(s) + 6 NaCl(aq).

This is a double displacement reaction where ions in solution swap partners. Calcium ions from calcium chloride meet phosphate ions from sodium phosphate to form calcium phosphate, which is not very soluble in water and thus precipitates as a solid. The sodium ions pair with chloride ions to produce sodium chloride, which stays dissolved in the solution. So you get a solid calcium phosphate plus dissolved sodium chloride. A balanced version of the equation shows the same idea: 3 CaCl2 + 2 Na3PO4 → Ca3(PO4)2(s) + 6 NaCl(aq).