NGSS Alignment for writing net ionic
equations
Science and Engineering
Practices
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Crosscutting Concepts
Multiple ways to Use with
your students
This activity can be used as an
opening activity the day after
teaching this topic, to review
before a quiz or test, or as
reinforcement.
Developing and Using Models
HS-PS1-2 and HS-PS1-7
*PS1.B: Chemical Reactions.
Patterns
• This content was part of the Chemistry Honors
Curriculum for my district.
• Have students work in pairs to complete work, or you
can have them complete this assignment
independently. It’s recommended to allow students to
collaborate with 1 – 2 other students, with each
student still being required to complete their own
worksheet.
• For a We Do, walk students through how to use the
Example box at the top of the first worksheet to write
the total ionic equation and identify the spectator ions.
• I always took this opportunity to reinforce using the
periodic table to verify valence electrons and
oxidation numbers.
• Since the next worksheet requires them to complete
the chemical equation from provided reactants, I
would take the time to point out the types of chemical
reactions for each problem.
© 2018 The Science Mentor
 Name: __________________________________ Date: _____________________ Period: _______

Ionic Equations, Net Ionic Equations

DIRECTIONS: Write the ionic equation and net ionic equation from each of the following molecular equations.
Indicate that no chemical reaction takes place if all species are spectator ions.
EXAMPLE Molecular Equation: SrBr2 (aq) + K2SO4 (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 KBr (aq)

STEP 1 – Ionic Equation: Separate each aqueous compound into their separate ions.
Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

STEP 2 – Spectator Ions: Identify the spectator ions. These will be the ones that are the same on
both sides of the yield.
Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

STEP 3 – Net Ionic Equation: To write the net ionic equation, rewrite the ionic equation without
the spectator ions.
Sr2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s)
Remember!!
1. Only write the ions for compounds that are in the aqueous state.
2. The coefficient is applied to each element in the compound.
3. The coefficient is multiplied by the subscript if present for an individual atom, and only applies the element
is follows.

1. Molecular Equation K3PO4 (aq) + Al(NO3)3 (aq) AlPO4 (s) + 3 KNO3 (aq)
Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

2. Molecular Equation SrBr2 (aq) + K2SO4 (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 KBr (aq)
Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

3. Molecular Equation 2 LiOH (aq) + BaCl2 (aq) 2 LiCl (aq) + Ba(OH)2 (aq)
Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

4. Molecular Equation 2 FeCl3 (aq) + 3 Mg (s) 3 MgCl2 (aq) + 2 Fe(s)

Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

© 2018 The Science Mentor
 Name: __________________________________ Date: _____________________ Period: _______

Ionic Equations, Net Ionic Equations

6. Molecular Equation Mg(OH)2 (aq) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + 2 H2O (l)

Ionic Equation
Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

7. Molecular Equation 2 AgNO3 (aq) + MgI2 (aq) 2 AgI (s) + Mg(NO3)2 (aq)
Ionic Equation
Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

8. Molecular Equation 2 Na3PO4 (aq) + 3 Ni(CIO4)2 (aq) Ni3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 NaCIO4 (aq)
Ionic Equation
Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

9. Molecular Equation 2 NaCl (aq) + FeCl2 (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 KBr (aq)

Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

10. Molecular Equation Ni(NO3)2 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) Ni(OH)2 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

Ionic Equation
Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

11. Molecular Equation Zr(OH)4 (s) + 4 HNO3 (aq) Zr(NO3)4 (aq) + 4 H2O (l)

Ionic Equation
Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

12. Molecular Equation Mg(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) MgCO3 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)
Ionic Equation

Spectator Ions

Net Ionic Equation

© 2018 The Science Mentor
 teacher answer keys
The following two pages are answer
keys for each worksheet.
 ANSWER KEY
Ionic Equations, Net Ionic Equations
DIRECTIONS: Write the ionic equation and net ionic equation from each of the following molecular equations.
Indicate that no chemical reaction takes place if all species are spectator ions.
EXAMPLE Molecular Equation: SrBr2 (aq) + K2SO4 (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 KBr (aq)

STEP 1 – Ionic Equation: Separate each aqueous compound into their separate ions.
Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

STEP 2 – Spectator Ions: Identify the spectator ions. These will be the ones that are the same on
both sides of the yield.
Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

STEP 3 – Net Ionic Equation: To write the net ionic equation, rewrite the ionic equation without
the spectator ions.
Sr2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s)
Remember!!
1. Only write the ions for compounds that are in the aqueous state.
2. The coefficient is applied to each element in the compound.
3. The coefficient is multiplied by the subscript if present for an individual atom, and only applies the element
is follows.

1. Molecular Equation K3PO4 (aq) + Al(NO3)3 (aq) AlPO4 (s) + 3 KNO3 (aq)
Ionic Equation 3 K+ (aq) + PO43- (aq) + Al3+ (aq) + 3 NO3- (aq) AlPO4 (s) + 3 K+ (aq) + 3 NO3- (aq)

Spectator Ions 3 K+ (aq) + PO43- (aq) + Al3+ (aq) + 3 NO3- (aq) AlPO4 (s) + 3 K+ (aq) + 3 NO3- (aq)

PO43- (aq) + Al3+ (aq) AlPO4 (s)

Net Ionic Equation
2. Molecular Equation SrBr2 (aq) + K2SO4 (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 KBr (aq)
Ionic Equation Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + (aq) + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K + (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

Spectator Ions Sr2+ (aq) + 2 Br - (aq) + 2 K + (aq) + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s) + 2 K + (aq) + 2 Br - (aq)

Net Ionic Equation Sr2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) SrSO4 (s)

3. Molecular Equation 2 LiOH (aq) + BaCl2 (aq) 2 LiCl (aq) + Ba(OH)2 (aq)
Ionic Equation 2 Li +(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) 2 Li +(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq)

Spectator Ions 2 Li +(aq)+ 2OH-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) 2 Li +(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq)

Net Ionic Equation All are spectator ions; reaction does no take place.

4. Molecular Equation 2 FeCl3 (aq) + 3 Mg (s) 3 MgCl2 (aq) + 2 Fe(s)

Ionic Equation 2 Fe3+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + 3 Mg (s) 3 Mg2+(aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + 2 Fe(s)

Spectator Ions 2 Fe3+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + 3 Mg (s) 3 Mg2+(aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + 2 Fe(s)

Net Ionic Equation 2 Fe3+ (aq) + 3 Mg (s) 3 Mg2+ (aq) + 2 Fe(s)

© 2018 The Science Mentor

 ANSWER KEY
Ionic Equations, Net Ionic Equations
6. Molecular Equation Mg(OH)2 (aq) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + 2 H2O (l)

Ionic Equation Mg2+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) + 2 H+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) Mg2+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) + 2 H2O (l)

Spectator Ions Mg2+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) + 2 H+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) Mg2+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) + 2 H2O (l)

Net Ionic Equation 2 OH- (aq) + 2 H+ (aq) 2 H2O (l)

7. Molecular Equation 2 AgNO3 (aq) + MgI2 (aq) 2 AgI (s) + Mg(NO3)2 (aq)

Ionic Equation 2 Ag + (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq) + Mg2+(aq) + 2 I-(aq) 2 AgI (s) + Mg2+ (aq) + 2 NO3-(aq)

Spectator Ions 2 Ag + (aq) + 2NO3- (aq) + Mg2+ (aq) + 2 I- (aq) 2 AgI (s) + Mg2+ (aq) + 2 NO3-(aq)

Net Ionic Equation 2 Ag + (aq) + 2 I- (aq) 2 AgI (s)

8. Molecular Equation 2 Na3PO4 (aq) + 3 Ni(CIO4)2 (aq) Ni3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 NaCIO4 (aq)

Ionic Equation 6 Na+ (aq) + 2PO43- (aq) + 3 Ni2+(aq) + 6 CIO4- (aq) Ni3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 Na +(aq) + 6 CIO4 - (aq)

Spectator Ions 6 Na+ (aq) + 2PO43- (aq) + 3 Ni2+(aq) + 6 CIO4- (aq) Ni3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 Na +(aq) + 6 CIO4 - (aq)

Net Ionic Equation 2PO43-(aq) + 3 Ni2+(aq) Ni3(PO4)2 (s)

9. Molecular Equation 2 NaCl (aq) + Pb(NO3)2 (aq) PbCl2 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

Ionic Equation 2 Na +(aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) + Pb 2+(aq) + 2 NO3- (aq) PbCl2 (s) + 2 Na +(aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Spectator Ions 2 Na + (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) + Pb 2+(aq) + 2 NO3- (aq) PbCl2 (s) + 2 Na +(aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Net Ionic Equation 2 Cl- (aq) + Pb 2+(aq) PbCl2 (s)

10. Molecular Equation Ni(NO3)2 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) Ni(OH)2 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

Ionic Equation Ni 2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) + 2 Na +(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) Ni(OH)2 (s) + 2 Na+(aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Spectator Ions Ni 2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) + 2 Na +(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) Ni(OH)2 (s) + 2 Na+ (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Net Ionic Equation Ni 2+(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) Ni(OH)2 (s)

11. Molecular Equation Zr(OH)4 (s) + 4 HNO3 (aq) Zr(NO3)4 (aq) + 4 H2O (l)

Ionic Equation Zr(OH)4 (s) + 4 H+(aq) + 4NO3- (aq) Zr4+ (aq) + 4 NO3- (aq) + 4 H2O (l)

Spectator Ions Zr(OH)4 (s) + 4 H+(aq) + 4NO3- (aq) Zr4+ (aq) + 4 NO3- (aq) + 4 H2O (l)

Net Ionic Equation Zr(OH)4 (s) + 4 H+(aq) Zr4+ (aq) + 4 H2O (l)

12. Molecular Equation Mg(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) MgCO3 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)
Ionic Equation Mg2+ (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq) + 2 Na+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) MgCO3 (s) + 2 Na+ (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Spectator Ions Mg2+ (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq) + 2 Na+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) MgCO3 (s) + 2 Na+ (aq) + 2 NO3- (aq)

Net Ionic Equation Mg2+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) MgCO3 (s)

© 2018 The Science Mentor

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