When hydrated ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·xH2O) and sodium chloride (NaCl) are mixed together, a neutralization reaction does not occur. Instead, a precipitation reaction takes place, leading to the formation of a new compound.
The reaction between hydrated ferrous sulfate and sodium chloride can be represented as follows:
FeSO4·xH2O + 2NaCl → FeCl2 + Na2SO4 + xH2O
In this reaction, the ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·xH2O) reacts with sodium chloride (NaCl) to form ferrous chloride (FeCl2), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and water (H2O). The xH2O represents the water molecules that were originally present in the hydrated ferrous sulfate compound.
The reaction is not a neutralization reaction because neutralization reactions typically involve the combination of an acid and a base to form a salt and water. In this case, neither hydrated ferrous sulfate nor sodium chloride acts as an acid or a base.
The reaction between hydrated ferrous sulfate and sodium chloride is an example of a precipitation reaction, where the reactants combine to form an insoluble product (ferrous chloride) that precipitates out of the solution. Sodium sulfate, being a soluble compound, remains in the solution.
Overall, the mixing of hydrated ferrous sulfate and sodium chloride leads to the formation of ferrous chloride and sodium sulfate, accompanied by the precipitation of ferrous chloride.