Science
Net ionic equations.
Definition
A net ionic equation shows only the ions and molecules that actually participate in a chemical reaction, removing spectator ions that remain unchanged. It reveals the essential chemistry occurring in aqueous solution reactions.
How it works · 5 phases
Step by step.
- Write the balanced molecular equation.
- Write the complete ionic equation by splitting all strong electrolytes into ions.
- Identify spectator ions (ions appearing unchanged on both sides).
- Remove spectator ions to obtain the net ionic equation.
- Verify that charge and atoms are balanced.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s) as the net ionic equation for silver nitrate + sodium chloride
- 2 H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l) for any strong acid–strong base neutralization
- 3 Removing Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ as spectator ions from a precipitation reaction