Introduction
If you’re studying chemistry, you may have come across the net ionic equation for the reaction between phosphoric acid and barium hydroxide. This equation is important because it shows the actual chemical reaction that occurs between these two substances, without including any spectator ions. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the net ionic equation for this reaction and what it means.
The Chemical Formula
The chemical formula for phosphoric acid is H3PO4, while the formula for barium hydroxide is Ba(OH)2. When these two substances are combined, they react to form water and barium phosphate. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is: H3PO4 + Ba(OH)2 → Ba3(PO4)2 + 2H2O
Breaking Down the Equation
In the above equation, the net ionic equation is the part that shows the actual chemical reaction that occurs. To find the net ionic equation, we need to first write out the complete ionic equation, which shows all of the ions involved in the reaction. The complete ionic equation for the reaction between phosphoric acid and barium hydroxide is: 3H+ + PO4-3 + Ba2+ + 2OH- → Ba3(PO4)2 + 6H2O
Spectator Ions
The complete ionic equation includes all of the ions involved in the reaction, including any spectator ions. Spectator ions are ions that are present in the reaction but do not actually participate in the chemical reaction. In this case, the spectator ions are the H+ and OH- ions, which cancel out in the net ionic equation.
Net Ionic Equation
To find the net ionic equation, we simply remove the spectator ions from the complete ionic equation. In this case, the net ionic equation is: PO4-3 + Ba2+ → Ba3(PO4)2 This equation shows only the ions that actually participate in the chemical reaction between phosphoric acid and barium hydroxide.
Conclusion
Understanding the net ionic equation for the reaction between phosphoric acid and barium hydroxide is important for anyone studying chemistry. By removing the spectator ions, the net ionic equation shows the actual chemical reaction that occurs between these two substances. The net ionic equation for this reaction is PO4-3 + Ba2+ → Ba3(PO4)2.