Chemical reactions: precipitation
I can describe what happens during precipitation reactions, and write chemical equations to show these.
Chemical reactions: precipitation
I can describe what happens during precipitation reactions, and write chemical equations to show these.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Precipitation reactions occur when two solutions combine to form an insoluble solid.
- The appearance of a precipitate is evidence that a chemical reaction has occurred.
- Precipitation reactions are important in water treatment, to remove unwanted substances from water.
- Precipitation reactions are used in qualitative analysis, to identify the presence of certain substances in a solution.
Keywords
Precipitation - The process where a precipitate is formed.
Precipitate - An insoluble solid formed when two solutions react together.
Aqueous solution (aq) - Formed when a substance is dissolved in water.
Insoluble - A way of describing a substance that will not dissolve in a particular solvent.
Chemical qualitative analysis - A chemical test that confirms the presence of a substance, it does not tell you how much of the substance is present.
Common misconception
Pupils can struggle to understand that a solid is not always a large piece of a substance.
Show visually the difference between a transparent coloured solution e.g. copper sulfate solution and a coloured precipitate solution. Practice describing the difference between a white precipitate and a transparent colourless solution.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Chemical reactions: precipitation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Chemical reactions: precipitation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Understanding chemical reactions unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Lead nitrate, potassium iodide, beakers, filtration kit: conical flask, filter paper, funnel, solutions containing CU²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, sodium hydroxide, test tubes and rack.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
(s)
(l)
(g)
(aq)