Objective: write a formula equation, complete ionic

equation, and net ionic equation that represent a reaction

We must be able to represent a reaction in three different ways: Formula Equation Total or Complete Ionic Equation Net Ionic Equation

A balanced chemical equation in which all the reactants and products are given by their chemical formula.

For Example:

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Soluble species are indicated by placing “(aq)” after the formula.

Precipitates are indicated by placing “(s)” after the formula.

This way of expressing the reaction is used whenever we want to indicate the chemical formula of the reactants and products.

Shows all the soluble ionic species broken up into their respective ions.

For Example:Ag+(aq)+ NO3

-(aq)+ Na+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)+ Na+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)

This method is not frequently used because it is cumbersome to write out.

It is used to emphasize the situation which exists before and after the reaction.

Spectator ions: Ions that remain unchanged during a reaction and do not

participate in the reaction. The spectator ions in the above equation are NO3

-(aq) and Na+

(aq)NEVER write a total ionic equation until you have first written a

balanced formula equation. If you proceed directly to a total ionic equation the result may be

balanced but still may not represent the actual situation.

Shows only the reacting species (species which are actively involved in the reaction…the one making the PPT) in the equation.

The net ionic equation is formed by omitting the spectator ions from the total ionic equation.

For Example:

We had:AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

then:Ag+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)+ Na+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)+ Na+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)

Canceling out spectator ions, we get:Ag+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)

Example: Write a formula equation, a total ionic

equation, and a net ionic equation for the reaction which occurs when 0.2 M solutions of Al(NO3)3(aq) and MgS(aq) are mixed.

1. Write the complete formula equation. Determine if there is a precipitate using“(s)” to identify the precipitate. The balanced formula equation is:

2 Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3 MgS(aq) → Al2S3(s) + 3 Mg(NO3)2(aq)2. Write the complete ionic equation by breaking up

the balanced formula equation into ions. Remember: The precipitate remains in molecular form. The number of ions is found by multiplying the

subscript after the ion, by the coefficient in front of the molecule.

The final equation must still be balanced.We get:

2Al3+ (aq)+6NO3-(aq)+3Mg2+ (aq)+3S2-(aq) Al2S3(s)+3Mg2+ (aq)+6NO3-(aq)

3. Write the net ionic equation by deleting the spectator ions and simplifying the coefficients if necessary.

2 Al3+ (aq) + 3 S2-(aq) → Al2S3(s)

Write the formula, complete ionic, and net ionic equation for each of the following reactions:

1) Aqueous nickel (II) chloride reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to give nickel (II) hydroxide and sodium chloride.

2) Solid potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

3) Aqueous sodium hydroxide reacts with phosphoric acid to give water and sodium phosphate.