Question

WRITE NET IONIC EQUation including phases for reaction Cu(NO3)2(aq)+Na2CO3(aq) CuCO3(s)+2NaNO3(aq)

Answer 1

`\rm Cu^(2+)\,(aq) + {CO_3}^(2-)\, (aq) \to CuCO_3 \, (s)`.

Step-by-step explanation:

Start by balancing the chemical equation. (In this question, the equation was already balanced.)

`\rm Cu(NO_3)_2\, (aq) + Na_2 CO_3\, (aq) \to CuCO_3\, (s) + 2\, NaNO_3\, (aq)`.

Go through all the chemicals in the equation. If the chemical is one of the followings, rewrite it as the ions it contains:

• A strong acid,
• A strong base, or
• A soluble salt (look for state symbol
  `\rm (aq)`, not
  `\rm (s)`.

In this case, all four chemicals are salts. However, only the three of them are soluble:
`\rm (aq)`:
`\rm Cu(NO_3)_2`,
`\rm Na_2 CO_3`, and
`\rm NaNO_3`.

• Rewrite
  `\rm Cu(NO_3)_2\, (aq)` as
  `\rm Cu^(2+)\, (aq)` and
  `2\, \rm {NO_3}^(-)\, (aq)`.
• Rewrite
  `\rm Na_2 CO_3\, (aq)` as
  `2\, \rm Na^(+)\, (aq)` and
  `\rm {CO_3}^(2-)\, (aq)`.
• Rewrite
  `2\, \rm NaNO_3\, (aq)` as
  `\rm 2\, Na^(+)\, (aq)` and
  `2\, \rm {NO_3}^(-)\, (aq)`.

After rewriting, the chemical equation becomes an ionic equation. However, this equation is not a "net" ionic equation due to all the duplicates.

`\begin{aligned}&\rm Cu^(2+)\, (aq) + 2\, \rm {NO_3}^(-)\, (aq) + 2\, \rm Na^(+)\, (aq)+ \rm {NO_3}^(-)\, (aq) \cr & \to\rm CuCO_3\, (s) + 2\, Na^(+)\, (aq) + 2\, \rm {NO_3}^(-)\, (aq)\end{aligned}`.

To obtain the net ionic equation, simply eliminate the duplicates.

`\begin{aligned}&\rm Cu^(2+)\, (aq) + \rm {CO_3}^(2-)\, (aq)\to\rm CuCO_3\, (s)\end{aligned}`.