Question

1. a) What is the net ionic equation for ZnSO₄ + H₂O?

b) Is the solution acidic or basic?

c) Which ion, Zn²⁺ or SO₄^2-, is causing the observed acidity or basicity?

2. What is the net ionic equation for Na₂CO₃ + H₂O?

3. What is the net ionic equation for NaHSO₄ + H₂O?

Answer 1

1.

a)

ZnSO4(aq) + 2H2O(aq) ---------------------> Zn(OH)2(s) + H2SO4(aq) [Molecular equation]

Zn^2+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ---------------------> Zn(OH)2(s) + 2H+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq) [Complete ionic equation]

Zn^2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ---------------------> Zn(OH)2(s) [Net ionic equation]

b)

The solution becomes acidic as the H2SO4 which is formed is a strong acid.

c)

The SO4^2- ion is the cause for the observable acidity.

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2.

Na2CO3(aq) + 2H2O(aq) -----------> 2NaOH(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

2Na+(aq) + CO3^2-(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ----------------> 2Na+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

CO3^2-(aq) + 2H+(aq) ------------------> H2O(l) + CO2(g)

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3.

NaHSO4(aq) + H2O(aq) ------------> NaOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)

Na+(aq) + HSO4^-(aq) + H+(aq) + OH-(aq) ----------------> Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) + 2H+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq)

HSO4^-(aq) + H+(aq)  ----------------> 2H+(aq) + SO4^2-(aq)