Chem Lab Question About Zinc Iodide Please?

We had to prepare zinc iodide from its elements in a previous lab then for this one, we needed to prepare zinc iodide from a double replacement reaction between Barium Iodide and Zinc Sulfate.
I know now that performing the double replacement reaction is a more efficient way of making zinc iodide but can someone tell me in terms of ease, purity, safety, reaction time and waste production why that is?
thanks :)

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One Response to “Chem Lab Question About Zinc Iodide Please?”

  1. Hi Cloud, I’m Billy Baloney.
    Your question is a difficult one to answer without the procedure for your previous lab, but in general, double-displacement reactions work a lot better than most synthesis reactions. Pure elements, such as Zn and I2 are in somewhat low energy states, which is why they can be found relatively easily in nature.
    Solutions are a whole other animal. I suspect the answer you’re looking for deals with the free energy and spontaneity of reactions. The spontaneity of precipitate forming reactions is pretty high, which is why precip. formation is one of the driving forces in reactions. That’s why this reaction is easier and faster.
    The purity, safety and waste generated in this reaction compared to the earlier lab can’t be determined without procedural specifics.
    Hope this helps a bit!
    Your friend in chemistry,
    Billy Baloney