Question

What are the spectator ions in the equation below? Select all that apply.

Answer 1

Step 1 - Understanding the reaction

The given reaction is a precipitation reaction. In order to discover the spectator ions, we need to discover which substance precipitates, i.e., which one is insoluble in water.

The two products are PbSO4 (insoluble in water) and HNO3 (soluble in water). Therefore, only the ions Pb2+ and SO4(2-) are effectively reacting, while the remaining ions, H+ and NO3-, are spectator ions.

We can rewrite this equation in ionic formula:

`Pb^(2+)+SO_(4^)^(2-)\text{ }\rightarrow PbSO_4`

Step 2 - Answering the exercise

The spectator ions are thus:

`H^+\text{ and NO}^-_3`

Answer: H+ and NO3-