Net Ionic Equation Chemistry Example 4

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Example 4

hard
Write the net ionic equation for the reaction: K2CO3(aq)+2HCl(aq)→2KCl(aq)+H2O(l)+CO2(g)\text{K}_2\text{CO}_3\text{(aq)} + 2\text{HCl(aq)} \rightarrow 2\text{KCl(aq)} + \text{H}_2\text{O(l)} + \text{CO}_2\text{(g)}. Identify all spectator ions.

Solution

  1. 1
    Complete ionic: 2K++CO32−+2H++2Cl−→2K++2Cl−+H2O+CO22\text{K}^+ + \text{CO}_3^{2-} + 2\text{H}^+ + 2\text{Cl}^- \rightarrow 2\text{K}^+ + 2\text{Cl}^- + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CO}_2.
  2. 2
    Spectator ions: K+\text{K}^+ and Cl−\text{Cl}^- (appear unchanged on both sides).
  3. 3
    Net ionic equation: CO32−(aq)+2H+(aq)→H2O(l)+CO2(g)\text{CO}_3^{2-}\text{(aq)} + 2\text{H}^+\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{O(l)} + \text{CO}_2\text{(g)}.

Answer

CO32−(aq)+2H+(aq)→H2O(l)+CO2(g)\text{CO}_3^{2-}\text{(aq)} + 2\text{H}^+\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{O(l)} + \text{CO}_2\text{(g)}
When carbonate ions react with acid, the unstable carbonic acid (H2CO3\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3) that initially forms immediately decomposes into water and carbon dioxide gas. This is why adding acid to carbonates produces bubbling.

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.

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