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How should sodium carbonate be written in an ionic equation?

User Beggs
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Sodium carbonate is represented as 2Na+ and CO3^2- in ionic equations, and in the reaction with CO2 and NaOH, the net ionic equation would be CO2(aq) + 2OH- → CO3^2-(aq) + H2O(l), omitting the spectator Na+ ions.

Step-by-step explanation:

To write sodium carbonate in an ionic equation, you would need to represent it as dissociated ions. The formula for sodium carbonate is Na2CO3. Since it is soluble in water, we can split it into its constituent ions. Therefore, in ionic form, sodium carbonate is written as 2Na+(aq) + CO32-(aq). A complete ionic equation for the reaction where carbon dioxide is dissolved in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to yield aqueous sodium carbonate and liquid water would be:

CO2(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) → 2Na+(aq) + CO32-(aq) + H2O(l)

The net ionic equation would cancel out the spectator ions, giving:

CO2(aq) + 2OH-(aq) → CO32-(aq) + H2O(l)

Spectator ions, such as Na+, do not participate directly in a chemical reaction and thus are not included in the net ionic equation. Remember, all ionic equations must be balanced to conform to the laws of conservation of mass and charge.

User Mike Hamilton
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