Question

II. Ionic Equations

Answer 1

Answer:

Complete ionic: $\begin{aligned}& \rm 2\, Ag^{+}\, (aq) + 2\, {NO_3}^{-} \, (aq) + Ca^{2+}\, (aq) + 2\, Cl^{-}\, (aq) \\ & \rm \to 2\, AgCl\, (s) + Ca^{2+}\, (aq) + 2\, {NO_3}^{-}\, (aq)\end{aligned}$.

Net ionic: $\begin{aligned}& \rm Ag^{+}\, (aq) + Cl^{-}\, (aq) \to AgCl\, (s)\end{aligned}$.

Explanation:

Start by identifying species that exist as ions. In general, such species include:

• Soluble salts.
• Strong acids and strong bases.

All four species in this particular question are salts. However, only three of them are generally soluble in water: $\rm AgNO_3$, $\rm CaCl_2$, and $\rm Ca(NO_3)_2$. These three salts will exist as ions:

• Each $\rm AgNO_3\, (aq)$ formula unit will exist as one $\rm Ag^{+}$ ion and one $\rm {NO_3}^{-}$ ion.
• Each $\rm CaCl_2$ formula unit will exist as one $\rm Ca^{2+}$ ion and two $\rm Cl^{-}$ ions (note the subscript in the formula $\rm CaCl_2\!$.)
• Each $\rm Ca(NO_3)_2$ formula unit will exist as one $\rm Ca^{2+}$ and two $\rm {NO_3}^{-}$ ions.

On the other hand, $\rm AgCl$ is generally insoluble in water. This salt will not form ions.

Rewrite the original chemical equation to get the corresponding ionic equation. In this question, rewrite $\rm AgNO_3$, $\rm CaCl_2$, and $\rm Ca(NO_3)_2$ (three soluble salts) as the corresponding ions.

Pay attention to the coefficient of each species. For example, indeed each $\rm AgNO_3\, (aq)$ formula unit will exist as only one $\rm Ag^{+}$ ion and one $\rm {NO_3}^{-}$ ion. However, because the coefficient of $\rm AgNO_3\, (aq)\!$ in the original equation is two, $\!\rm AgNO_3\, (aq)$ alone should correspond to two $\rm Ag^{+}\!$ ions and two $\rm {NO_3}^{-}\!$ ions.

Do not rewrite the salt $\rm AgCl$ because it is insoluble.

$\begin{aligned}& \rm 2\, Ag^{+}\, (aq) + 2\, {NO_3}^{-} \, (aq) + Ca^{2+}\, (aq) + 2\, Cl^{-}\, (aq) \\ & \rm \to 2\, AgCl\, (s) + Ca^{2+}\, (aq) + 2\, {NO_3}^{-}\, (aq)\end{aligned}$.

Eliminate ions that are present on both sides of this ionic equation. In this question, such ions include one unit of $\rm Ca^{2+}$ and two units of $\rm {NO_3}^{-}$. Doing so will give:

$\begin{aligned}& \rm 2\, Ag^{+}\, (aq) + 2\, Cl^{-}\, (aq) \to 2\, AgCl\, (s)\end{aligned}$.

Simplify the coefficients:

$\begin{aligned}& \rm Ag^{+}\, (aq) + Cl^{-}\, (aq) \to AgCl\, (s)\end{aligned}$.