Question

What is the balanced net ionic equation of mixed AgNO3 and MgCl2 solutions?

A. Ag+(aq) + Cl–(aq) → AgCl(s)
B. Ag+(aq) + Cl2–(aq) → AgCl2(s)
C. Mg2+(aq) + NO3–(aq) → Mg(NO3)2(s)
D. Ag3+(aq) + 3Cl–(aq) → AgCl3(s)

Answer 1

The balanced net ionic equation of mixed AgNO3 and MgCl2 solutions is Mg2+(aq) + 2Cl–(aq) → MgCl2(s). AgNO3 and MgCl2 are both ionic compounds and the reaction is a double replacement reaction. AgNO3 is composed of silver ions (Ag+) and nitrate ions (NO3–) while MgCl2 is composed of magnesium ions (Mg2+) and chloride ions (Cl–). When these two compounds are mixed together, the silver and nitrate ions react with the magnesium and chloride ions to form the silver chloride (AgCl) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) products.