Writing Total And Net Ionic Equations
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1
2WRITING TOTAL AND NET IONIC EQUATIONS
001/FreshChemHandouts.html
1.
Write the overall equation including the correct designations for the physical state of the substances
(s, l, g, aq). Balance this equation. Most of these kinds of equations are double displacement
reactions: AX + BY
AY + BX
2. For the total ionic equations, write strong electrolytes in solution in the form of aqueous ions.
(a) Strong acids. The common strong acids and their aqueous ions are:
+
-
HI
Hydroiodic acid
H (aq) + I (aq)
+
-
HBr
Hydrobromic acid
H (aq) + Br (aq)
+
-
HCl
Hydrochloric acid
H (aq) + Cl (aq)
+
-
HNO
Nitric acid
H (aq) + NO (aq)
3
3
+
-
HClO
Perchloric acid
H (aq) + ClO (aq)
4
4
+
-2
H SO
Sulfuric acid
2 H (aq) + SO (aq)
2
4
4
(b) Strong bases. Strong bases are the hydroxides of the alkali (Group IA) and
alkaline earth (Group IIA) metals ions which are sufficiently soluble. The
common strong bases and their aqueous ions are:
+
-
LiOH
Lithium hydroxide
Li (aq) + OH (aq)
+
-
NaOH
Sodium hydroxide
Na (aq) + OH (aq)
+
-
KOH
Potassium hydroxide
K (aq) + OH (aq)
+2
-
Sr(OH)
Strontium hydroxide
Sr (aq) + 2 OH (aq)
2
+2
-
Ba(OH)
Barium hydroxide
Ba (aq) + 2 OH (aq)
2
(c) Soluble salts. Determinations of the solubility of a salt may be made by
reference to SOLUBILITIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS. Soluble salts are
written as their aqueous ions:
+
-
NaCl(aq)
Sodium chloride
Na (aq) + Cl (aq)
+
-2
K SO (aq)
Potassium sulfate
2 K (aq) + SO (aq)
2
4
4
+
-2
Li CO (aq)
Lithium carbonate
2 Li (aq) + CO (aq)
2
3
3
+
-3
Na PO (aq)
Sodium phosphate
3 Na (aq) + PO (aq)
3
4
4
+
-2
(NH ) SO (aq)
Ammonium sulfate
2 NH (aq) + SO (aq)
4 2
4
4
4
3. For the total ionic equations, write the weak electrolytes in solution as their (predominantly)
molecular form. Weak electrolytes, or un-ionized substances, include (with examples):
(a) weak acids
(b) weak bases
(c)
water
HC H O (aq)
NH (aq)
H O(l)
2
3
2
3
2
HCN(aq)
(NH OH written as NH (aq) + H O(l)
4
3
2
4. For the total ionic equations, write insoluble substances as the total compound (in their
molecular form). Unstable substances are written in their decomposed forms. These substances
include (with examples):
(a) precipitates or insoluble reactants
(b)
gases
(c) derived from unstable substances
CaCO (s)
CO (g)
If NH OH, write NH (aq) + H O(l)
3
2
4
3
2
Zn(OH) (s)
SO (g)
If H CO , write CO (g) + H O(l)
2
2
2
3
2
2
Mg(OH) (s)
SO (g)
If H SO , write SO (g) + H O(l)
2
3
2
3
2
2
Ca(OH) (s)
O (g), N (g)
2
2
2
5. For the net ionic equations, cancel any substances or ions that appear on both sides of the equation.
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