NetIonicReactions

Net ionic reactions are chemical equations showing only the species that are actually involved in the chemical reactions. These chemical equations are different than the molecular equation in that any spectator ions (ions that not used in the reaction) are omitted.

The following steps are followed to obtain net ionic reactions.

1. Get a balanced complete molecular equation.
2. Break all aqueous (aq) species into their ions
3. Cancel out all ions that are the same on both sides of the chemical reaction arrow (called spectator ions).
4. Rewrite everything that is left over as the net ionic reaction.

Example:

• Step 1: 1 Ca⁰_(s) + 2 Ag(NO₃)_1(aq) --> 1 Ca(NO₃)_2(aq) + 2 Ag⁰_(s) (Balanced Molecular Equation)

• Step2 : 1 Ca⁰_(s) + 2 Ag¹⁺ + 2 NO₃^1- --> 1 Ca²⁺ + 2 NO₃^1- + 2 Ag⁰_(s)

• Step 3: I can't show on this webpage cancel out of spectator ions. You can do it right on work above. The spectator ion is NO₃^1- since it is same on both side of arrow.

• Step 4: 1 Ca⁰_(s) + 2 Ag¹⁺ --> 1 Ca²⁺ + 2 Ag⁰_(s) (Net Ionic Reaction)

(The above method works for any reactions but the most common one are single and double replacement reaction. The example is a single replacement reaction.)