Precipitation Reaction: Formation of Canary Yellow Precipitate

What happens when ammonium molybdate solution reacts with Na₃PO₄ in the presence of conc. HNO₃?

When these substances react, what kind of precipitate is formed?

Answer:

The canary yellow precipitate formed when ammonium molybdate and sodium phosphate react in the presence of concentrated nitric acid is ammonium phosphomolybdate, which contains 12 metal atoms per molecule.

When the solution of ammonium molybdate reacts with sodium phosphate in the presence of concentrated nitric acid, a canary yellow precipitate known as ammonium phosphomolybdate is formed. This precipitate contains 12 metal atoms in its formula.

The reaction described is a type of precipitation reaction where a solid (the yellow precipitate) is formed when two aqueous solutions react under specific conditions. In this case, the combination of the reagents results in the formation of the distinctive canary yellow precipitate.

The formula of the yellow precipitate, (NH4)3[PO4(Mo3O10)4], indicates the presence of 12 metal atoms. Specifically, there are 7 molybdenum (Mo) atoms and 3 phosphorus (P) atoms per molecule, totaling 12 metal atoms.