Net Ionic Equation

The concept of Net Ionic Equation can be easily understood by the equations given below,

For the synthesis of silver chloride precipitate, we can use the following chemical equation.

NaCl + AgNO₃ → NaNO₃ + AgCl

The associated ionic equation is as follows:

Na⁺ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq) + Ag⁺ (aq) + NO₃⁻ (aq) → Na⁺ (aq) + NO₃⁻ (aq) + AgCl (s)

The sodium ion and the nitrate ion can be seen as unchanged on both sides of the ionic equation if you pay close attention to them. Both the Na⁺ and the NO₃ ions are absent from the process when the two solutions are combined. They might be taken out of the reaction.

Both the sodium ion and the nitrate ion are spectator ions in the mentioned process. Without the spectator ions, the equation can now be stated as follows:

Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻ (aq) → AgCl (s)

Chemical equation that only displays the components that are involved directly in the chemical reaction is known as the Net Ionic Formula or Net Ionic Equation.

Net ionic equation provides information about the ions present in an aqueous solution. In polar solvents like water, salts dissolve and then are present as cations and anions. The chemical species that change chemically are identified by the net ionic equation. The ions that show up on both sides of the equation are stable and are therefore referred to be spectator ions. There have been many equations encountered, the majority of which are condensed equations with all reactants and products denoted as electrically neutral molecules and compounds.