Writing Formula, Complete and Net Ionic

Equations

Objective:
 write a formula equation, complete ionic equation, and net ionic equation that
represent a reaction
 Writing Formula, Total and Net
Ionic Equations
 We must be able to represent a reaction in three different ways:
 Formula Equation
 Total or Complete Ionic Equation
 Net Ionic Equation
 Formula Equation:
 A balanced chemical equation in which all the reactants and products are given
by their chemical formula.

For Example:

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

 Soluble species are indicated by placing “(aq)” after the formula.

 Precipitates are indicated by placing “(s)” after the formula.
 This way of expressing the reaction is used whenever we want to
indicate the chemical formula of the reactants and products.
Total or Complete Ionic Equation
Shows all the soluble ionic species broken up into their respective ions.

For Example:
Ag+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)+ Na+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)+ Na+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)

 This method is not frequently used because it is cumbersome to write out.

 It is used to emphasize the situation which exists before and after the reaction.

Spectator ions:
 Ions that remain unchanged during a reaction and do not participate in the
reaction.
 The spectator ions in the above equation are NO -(aq) and Na+(aq)
3

NEVER write a total ionic equation until you have first written a balanced formula
equation.
 If you proceed directly to a total ionic equation the result may be balanced but still
may not represent the actual situation.
 Net Ionic Equation:
 Shows only the reacting species (species which are actively involved
in the reaction…the one making the PPT) in the equation.
 The net ionic equation is formed by omitting the spectator ions from
the total ionic equation.

For Example:

We had:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)
then:
Ag+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)+ Na+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)+ Na+(aq)+ NO3-(aq)

Canceling out spectator ions, we get:

Ag+(aq)+ Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)
Let’s try an example putting all
these ideas together
 Example:
 Write a formula equation, a total ionic equation, and a net
ionic equation for the reaction which occurs when 0.2 M
solutions of Al(NO3)3(aq) and MgS(aq) are mixed.
1. Write the complete formula equation. Determine if there is a
precipitate using“(s)” to identify the precipitate. The balanced
formula equation is:
2 Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3 MgS(aq) → Al2S3(s) + 3 Mg(NO3)2(aq)
2. Write the complete ionic equation by breaking up the balanced
formula equation into ions.
Remember:
 The precipitate remains in molecular form.
 The number of ions is found by multiplying the subscript after the
ion, by the coefficient in front of the molecule.
 The final equation must still be balanced.
We get:
2Al3+ (aq)+6NO3-(aq)+3Mg2+ (aq)+3S2-(aq) 
Al2S3(s)+3Mg2+ (aq)+6NO3-(aq)
3. Write the net ionic equation by deleting the spectator ions and
simplifying the coefficients if necessary.

2 Al3+ (aq) + 3 S2-(aq) → Al2S3(s)

Let’s Try Some More

 Write the formula, complete ionic, and net ionic equation

for each of the following reactions:
1) Aqueous nickel (II) chloride reacts with aqueous sodium
hydroxide to give nickel (II) hydroxide and sodium
chloride.
2) Solid potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium
hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
3) Aqueous sodium hydroxide reacts with phosphoric acid to
give water and sodium phosphate.