Why do ions exchange partners?
Cations are always attracted to anions, but the hydration and hydrogen bonding keep the ions of electrolytes in solution. When two solutions are mixed, cations of one electrolyte meat anions of the other. If they form a more stable substance such as a solid or neutral molecules, exchange or metathesis reaction takes place. The new couples form a precipitation, gas, or neutral molecules. These reactions can be employed for gravimetric or volumetric analysis (determine the quantities present in a sample).
