Question

Write the balanced net ionic equation for MgCl2+ NaOH.

Answer 1

To write the balanced net ionic equation for the reaction between magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), we first need to consider the dissociation of the compounds in water:

1. **Dissociation of MgCl₂**:
\[
\text{MgCl}_2 (aq) \rightarrow \text{Mg}^{2+} (aq) + 2\text{Cl}^- (aq)
\]

2. **Dissociation of NaOH**:
\[
\text{NaOH} (aq) \rightarrow \text{Na}^+ (aq) + \text{OH}^- (aq)
\]

3. The full ionic equation when combining both salts in solution:
\[
\text{Mg}^{2+} (aq) + 2\text{Cl}^- (aq) + 2\text{Na}^+ (aq) + 2\text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow \text{Mg(OH)}_2 (s) + 2\text{Na}^+ (aq) + 2\text{Cl}^- (aq)
\]

4. **Identifying Spectator Ions**:
Sodium ions (\(\text{Na}^+\)) and chloride ions (\(\text{Cl}^-\)) do not participate in the actual reaction. They are spectator ions.

5. **Net Ionic Equation**:
To get the net ionic equation, we remove the spectator ions:
\[
\text{Mg}^{2+} (aq) + 2\text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow \text{Mg(OH)}_2 (s)
\]

Thus, the balanced net ionic equation for the reaction between magnesium chloride and sodium hydroxide is:
\[
\text{Mg}^{2+} (aq) + 2\text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow \text{Mg(OH)}_2 (s)
\]