Explore the Precipitation Reactions Lab
Mix real quantities of ionic solutions, watch a staged nucleation-and-settling animation, check Q against Ksp, then filter, weigh.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Precipitation Reactions Lab with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Precipitation Reactions Lab?
Mix real quantities of ionic solutions, watch a staged nucleation-and-settling animation, check Q against Ksp, then filter, weigh and calculate percent yield. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Precipitation is used in water treatment, medicine (barium meals), pigments, and analysing which ions are in a sample.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
A precipitate forms when two ions combine into an insoluble compound.
Solubility rules tell you which combinations stay dissolved, and the solubility product Ksp tells you precisely: if Q > Ksp a precipitate is expected.
The net ionic equation shows only the ions that actually form the solid; the rest are spectator ions.
Mix silver nitrate with sodium chloride and watch the nucleation animation.
Try lead(II) nitrate with sodium sulfate.
Check the Solubility/Ksp tab to see Q compared against Ksp.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Chemistry Labs learners
Students preparing for practical exams and teachers who want a virtual lab.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Precipitation Reactions Lab on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Try lead(II) nitrate with sodium sulfate. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
What is a precipitate?
An insoluble solid that forms when two solutions are mixed. It appears as cloudiness that settles into a solid, driven by nucleation and crystal growth.
What are spectator ions?
Ions that stay dissolved and do not take part in forming the solid. They are left out of the net ionic equation.
What does it mean if Q is bigger than Ksp?
Q is the reaction quotient using the concentrations you actually have. If Q exceeds the solubility product Ksp, the solution is supersaturated and a precipitate forms until Q falls back to Ksp.
Is the Precipitation Reactions Lab free to use?
Yes. The Precipitation Reactions Lab is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Chemistry Labs group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Precipitation Reactions Lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Precipitation Reactions Lab takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 3 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
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Try the Precipitation Reactions Lab now
Mix real quantities of ionic solutions, watch a staged nucleation-and-settling animation. Free to use.
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