Question

Can you provide the net ionic equation for the reaction: Mg (s) + AlCl3 (aq) --> Al (s) + MgCl2 (aq)? What would be the approach to solve such an equation?

Answer 1

The net ionic equation for the reaction Mg (s) + AlCl3 (aq) → Al (s) + MgCl2 (aq) is Mg (s) + 3Al3+ (aq) → Al (s) + Mg2+ (aq).

Step-by-step explanation:

The net ionic equation for the reaction Mg (s) + AlCl3 (aq) → Al (s) + MgCl2 (aq) can be obtained by writing the balanced complete ionic equation and then removing the spectator ions.

The balanced complete ionic equation for this reaction is:

Mg (s) + 3Al3+ (aq) + 3Cl- (aq) → Al (s) + Mg2+ (aq) + 3Cl- (aq)

The spectator ions are 3Cl- (aq) on both sides of the equation. Removing them gives us the net ionic equation:

Mg (s) + 3Al3+ (aq) → Al (s) + Mg2+ (aq)