Final answer:
The ionic equation for sodium carbonate begins with the balanced molecular equation for the reaction between CO₂ and NaOH. The complete ionic equation shows all dissociated ions, and the net ionic equation omits the spectator ions, focusing on the species that actually participate in the reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When writing the ionic equation for sodium carbonate, it's important to start with the balanced molecular equation that describes the reaction between carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and water (H₂O). The balanced molecular equation is:
CO₂ (aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na₂CO₃(aq) + H₂O(l)
To write the complete ionic equation, we must represent the strong electrolytes (substances that dissociate into ions in aqueous solution) as their constituent ions:
CO₂ (aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2OH−(aq) → 2Na+(aq) + CO₃2−(aq) + H₂O(l)
Finally, the net ionic equation focuses on the species that actually change during the reaction. Since the sodium ions (Na+) are spectators and do not participate in the reaction, we can omit them:
CO₂ (aq) + 2OH−(aq) → CO₃2−(aq) + H₂O(l)