Question: Write the ionic equation, with state symbols, for the reaction between silver nitrate solution and sodium chloride solution.Step 1: write the balanced full equation.AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq) Step 2: split every aqueous ionic substance into its ions. Solids, liquids, gases and covalent molecules are not split.Ag+(aq) + NO3-(aq) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s) + Na+(aq) + NO3-(aq) Step 3: cancel the spectator ions, the ions that appear unchanged on both sides. Here they are Na+(aq) and NO3-(aq).Step 4: write what is left.Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s) Step 5: check that the atoms and the total charge balance. Left: (+1) + (-1) = 0. Right: AgCl is neutral, so 0. The equation is balanced.The ionic equation is more general than the full equation. Any soluble silver salt reacting with any soluble chloride gives the same ionic equation, because the other ions take no part in the reaction. For example, silver nitrate with potassium chloride also gives Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s), with K+ and NO3- as spectators.
Ionic Equations - Question1
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Specification: Edexcel Chemistry (8CH0), AS-level, Topic 5: Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance. Topic: Amount of Substance and Calculations.
Key terms in this lesson
- spectator ion
- An ion present in a reaction mixture that appears unchanged on both sides of the equation and takes no part in it.
More in Amount of Substance and Calculations
- Calculations
- Chemical Formulae
- Balanced Equations
- Ionic Equations
- Ionic Equations - Question 2
- Ionic Equations - Question3
- Ionic Equations - Question 4
- Calculations of Reacting Masses
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