Taking into account the definition of net ionic equation, the net ionic equation is Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s) and a precipitate of AgCl is formed when a solution of NaCl(aq) with a solution of AgNO₃(aq) are mixed.
The net ionic equation is a chemical equation for a reaction that lists only the species that participate in the reaction.
In other words, an ionic equation is a chemical equation where electrolytes in aqueous solution are written as dissociated ions. Usually this is a salt dissolved in water, where the ionic species are followed by (aq) in the equation, to indicate that they are in aqueous solution.
The balanced equation will be:
NaCl(aq) + AgNO₃(aq) → AgNO₃(aq) + AgCl(s)
where (aq) means aqueous and (s) solid.
Taking into account that:
The total ionic equation in separated aqueous solution will be:
Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) + Ag⁺(aq) + NO₃⁻(aq) → Ag⁺ + NO₃⁻(aq) + AgCl(s)
A spectator ion is an ion that appears both as a reactant and as a product in an ionic equation.
Spectator ions can be either cations (positively charged ions) or anions (negatively charged ions).
When writing a net ionic equation, spectator ions found in the original equation are ignored. Thus, the total ionic reaction is different from the net chemical reaction.
In this case, Ag⁺ and NO₃⁻ are the spectator ions because they appear unchanged in both the product and the reagent. So these ions cancel out by writing the net ionic equation and you get:
Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s)
Since AgCl is an insoluble salt, it will precipitate.
Finally, the net ionic equation is Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s) and a precipitate of AgCl is formed when a solution of NaCl(aq) with a solution of AgNO₃(aq) are mixed.
Learn more:
