Net Ionic Equation Chemistry Example 2

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Example 2

medium
Write the net ionic equation for the reaction between BaCl2(aq)\text{BaCl}_2\text{(aq)} and Na2SO4(aq)\text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4\text{(aq)}.

Solution

  1. 1
    Molecular equation: BaCl2(aq)+Na2SO4(aq)→BaSO4(s)+2NaCl(aq)\text{BaCl}_2\text{(aq)} + \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4\text{(s)} + 2\text{NaCl(aq)}.
  2. 2
    Complete ionic: Ba2++2Cl−+2Na++SO42−→BaSO4(s)+2Na++2Cl−\text{Ba}^{2+} + 2\text{Cl}^- + 2\text{Na}^+ + \text{SO}_4^{2-} \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4\text{(s)} + 2\text{Na}^+ + 2\text{Cl}^-.
  3. 3
    Remove spectator ions (Na+\text{Na}^+, Cl−\text{Cl}^-): Net ionic equation is Ba2+(aq)+SO42−(aq)→BaSO4(s)\text{Ba}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{SO}_4^{2-}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4\text{(s)}.

Answer

Ba2+(aq)+SO42−(aq)→BaSO4(s)\text{Ba}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + \text{SO}_4^{2-}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4\text{(s)}
The net ionic equation reveals that any soluble barium salt mixed with any soluble sulfate salt will produce the same precipitate (BaSO4\text{BaSO}_4), regardless of the spectator ions involved.

About Net Ionic Equation

A simplified chemical equation that shows only the ions and molecules directly involved in a chemical reaction, with all spectator ions (those unchanged on both.

Learn more about Net Ionic Equation →

More Net Ionic Equation Examples

Example 1 easy

Explain the difference between a molecular equation, a complete ionic equation, and a net ionic equa

Example 3 medium

Write the net ionic equation for the neutralization of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide: [for

Example 4 hard

Write the net ionic equation for the reaction: [formula]. Identify all spectator ions.

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