A metal salt MX when exposed to light splits up to form metal M and a gas X2. Metal M is used in making ornaments whereas gas X2 is used in making bleaching powder. The salt MX is itself used in black and white photography.
(a) What do you think metal M is?
(b) What could be gas X2?
(c) Name the metal salt MX.
(d) Name any two salt solutions which on mixing together can produce a precipitate of salt MX.
(e) What type of chemical reaction takes place when salt MX is exposed to light? Write the equation of the reaction.
(a) Silver is the metal X.
(a) When MX salt is exposed to light, chlorine is produced as a gas.
(c) MX is the metal salt silver chloride that is employed in black and white photography.
(d) Silver nitrate and sodium chloride are two salt solutions that, when mixed together, produce a silver chloride precipitate.
(e) The decomposition reaction is the process by which a substance decomposes into simpler new compounds. Silver chloride breaks down into silver and chlorine gas.
2AgCl → 2Ag + Cl2
