Answer:
The given reaction in your problem is the ionic equation for an acid (carbonic acid) reacting with a base (sodium hydroxide). All components of the reaction are then written in ionic form except for reactant weak electrolytes and the driving force product compound of the reaction (H2O). See following explanation.
Explanation:
Metathesis Rxn: molecular equation of rxn
H₂CO₃(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) => Na₂CO₃(aq) + 2H₂O(l)
Ionic Equation: shows all components of the reaction
H₂CO₃(aq) + 2Na⁺(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) => 2Na⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq) + 2H₂O(l)
H₂CO₃(aq) wk. electrolyte and H₂O(l) driving force compound are not shown ionized in ionic equation. Only strong electrolytes that ionize 100%; i.e., salts and strong acids and bases.
Net Ionic Equation: shows only the reactive components without the spectator ions (nonreactive components), in this case, the Na⁺(aq) ions.
H₂CO₃(aq) + 2OH⁻(aq) => CO₃²⁻(aq) + 2H₂O(l)
