Question

What are the spectator ions in the reaction between nitrous acid and sodium hydroxide?

Answer 1

NO₂⁻ and Na⁺

Step-by-step explanation:

• The reaction between nitrous acid and sodium hydroxide is given by;

HNO₂(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaNO₂(aq) + H₂O(l)

• The complete ionic equation for the reaction will be;

H⁺(aq)NO₂⁻(aq) + Na⁺(aq)OH⁻(aq) → Na⁺(aq)NO₂⁻(aq) + H₂O(l)

• The net ionic equation will be;

H⁺(aq)+ OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l)

• NO₂⁻ and Na⁺ are spectator ions and therefore they are not included while writing the net ionic equation.

• Spectator ions are ions that do not change state after the reaction has taken place.