Final answer:
The spectator ions for the reaction of MgSO₃ and HI are Mg²⁺ and SO₃²⁺, as they appear unchanged on both sides of the equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spectator ions for the reaction that occurs when aqueous solutions of MgSO₃ and HI are mixed are Mg²⁺ and SO₃²⁺. To identify spectator ions, we look for ions that do not change during the course of the reaction; they appear unchanged on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. In the reaction between MgSO₃ and HI, hydrogen ions (H⁺) from HI would react with the sulfite ions (SO₃²⁺) from MgSO₃ to form sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃), thus they are not spectator ions. The magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) and the iodide ions (I⁻) do not participate in the reaction and are present in the same form on both sides of the chemical equation. As a result, the magnesium and sulfite ions are considered spectator ions.
The spectator ions for the reaction that occurs when aqueous solutions of MgSO₃ and HI are mixed are Mg²⁺ and I⁻. A spectator ion is an ion that does not take part in the chemical reaction and is found in solution both before and after the reaction. In this case, the Mg²⁺ and I⁻ ions are present on both sides of the reaction and do not undergo any changes.