Final answer:
A net ionic equation reflects only the ions and molecules directly involved in a chemical change, excluding spectator ions, which are present in the complete ionic equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A net ionic equation represents the chemical equation for a reaction strictly showing the ions and molecules that are directly involved in the chemical reaction. This type of equation excludes the spectator ions, which do not participate in the reaction itself.
On the other hand, a complete ionic equation includes all the ions that are present in the solution, showing which ions and molecules are hydrated and which are present in other forms and phases. The complete ionic equation displays all ionized species in the reaction even if they don't undergo a chemical change. The net ionic equation is derived by removing the spectator ions from the complete ionic equation, leaving only the ions and molecules that undergo a chemical change.