Ionic Equations: Summary & Practice ('O' & 'N' Level Chemistry)

Steps to writing an ionic equation

1) Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction if it's not given. Include all state symbols.
2) Write a new equation below the chemical equation. For the new equation, if…
a) The reactant or product in the original equation has state symbols (s), (l) or (g), leave it as it is
b) The reactant or product in the original equation has state symbol (aq), split the chemical formula of those
compounds into their positive and negative ions.
Note: All salts that are soluble in water will have state symbol (aq) because “aq” represents “aqueous”, which
means “dissolved in water” (see Salts chapter for solubility table).
3) After writing the new equation, cancel the ions that appear on both sides of the new equation. Always
include state symbols for ionic equations, even if the question doesn't ask you to do so.

Example: Write the ionic equation for the reaction between magnesium & hydrochloric acid
1) Balanced chemical equation with state symbols: Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
2) New equation written below the chemical equation:
Mg (s) + 2H+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + H2(g)
3) Cancel the ions that appear on both sides of the equation from the previous step:
Mg (s) + 2H+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2Cl-(aq) + H2(g)
4) The ionic equation obtained would be (this is the final answer):
Mg (s) + 2H+ (aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2 (g)

Things to check in your final ionic equation

1) Are the overall charges the same on both sides of the equation?
2) Is the total no. of each atom balanced on both sides of the equation?

Practice Questions
Write the ionic equation for each of the following reactions:
a) Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI (aq) → 2KNO3 (aq) + PbI2 (s)

_____________________________________________________________
Workings:

b) Na2CO3 + 2HNO3 → 2NaNO3 + CO2 + H2O

_____________________________________________________________
Workings:

c) Sulfuric acid + magnesium hydroxide → magnesium sulfate + water

_____________________________________________________________
Workings:

© Yvonne Goh (2017) 1

Answers for Practice Questions
a) Pb2+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) → PbI2 (s)
Workings:
Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI (aq) → 2 KNO3 (aq) + PbI2 (s)
Pb2+ (aq) + 2NO3- (aq) + 2K+ (aq) + 2I- (aq) → 2K+ (aq) + 2NO3- (aq) + PbI2 (s)

b) CO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Workings:
Na2CO3 (aq) + 2HNO3 (aq) → 2NaNO3 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
2Na+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) + 2H+ (aq) + 2NO3-(aq) → 2Na+ (aq) + 2NO3- (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

c) 2H+ (aq) + Mg(OH)2 (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2H2O (l)

Workings:
H2SO4 (aq) + Mg(OH)2 (s) → MgSO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l)
2H+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) + Mg(OH)2 (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) + 2H2O (l)

© Yvonne Goh (2017) 2