is a reaction of silver nitrate with HCI a physical or chemical change

1 answer

The reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a chemical change. When silver nitrate reacts with hydrochloric acid, they form silver chloride (AgCl), which is an insoluble white precipitate, along with nitric acid (HNO₃) as a byproduct. The formation of a new substance (silver chloride) indicates that a chemical change has occurred.

The equation for the reaction can be represented as follows:

\[ \text{AgNO}_3 (aq) + \text{HCl} (aq) \rightarrow \text{AgCl} (s) + \text{HNO}_3 (aq) \]

This change is characterized by the production of a precipitate and the formation of different products, which are hallmarks of a chemical reaction.