Question

When ammonium nitrate is added to a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water, the Mg(OH)2 dissolves. Write a net ionic equation to show how this occurs. Do not include physical states and use the smallest possible integer coefficients.

Answer 1

Answer:

Net ionic: $Mg(OH)_{2}+2NH_{4}^{+}\rightarrow Mg^{2+}+2NH_{3}+2H_{2}O$

Explanation:

$OH^{-}$ in $Mg(OH)_{2}$ reacts with $NH_{4}^{+}$ to form $NH_{3}$ and $H_{2}O$.

Due to this acid-base reaction, $Mg(OH)_{2}$ become soluble whenever $NH_{4}NO_{3}$ is added to suspension of $Mg(OH)_{2}$.

In this reaction, $NH_{4}NO_{3}$ acts as an acid and $Mg(OH)_{2}$ acts as a base.

Molecular equation: $Mg(OH)_{2}+2NH_{4}NO_{3}\rightarrow Mg(NO_{3})_{2}+2NH_{3}+2H_{2}O$

Total ionic: $Mg(OH)_{2}+2NH_{4}^{+}+2NO_{3}^{-}\rightarrow Mg^{2+}+2NO_{3}^{-}+2NH_{3}+2H_{2}O$

Net ionic: $Mg(OH)_{2}+2NH_{4}^{+}\rightarrow Mg^{2+}+2NH_{3}+2H_{2}O$