Question

Part A

Write balanced molecular equation for the reaction between nitric acid and calcium hydroxide.

Part B

Enter a net ionic equation for the reaction between nitric acid and calcium hydroxide.

Answer 1

Ans. #Part A: HNO₃(aq) + Ca(OH)₂(aq) ----> ?

HNO3 gives 1 acidic H⁺ while Ca(OH)₂ gives 2 OH^-. Since 1 H+ and 1 OH- combine to form 1 H₂O, the number of these ions must be equal for complete neutralization reaction. Therefore, there must be 2 HNO3 (= 2 H⁺ total) per Ca(OH)₂ (= 2 OH^- in total) in the balanced reaction.

So, the balance reaction is-

            2 HNO₃(aq) + Ca(OH)₂(aq) ----> Ca(NO₃)₂ (aq) + 2 H₂O(l)

# Part 2: Being a salt of strong acid and string base, Ca(NO₃)₂ completely dissociates into constituent ions.

# Step 1: Write the chemicals species of the balanced molecular equation in their respective ionic forms- leave pure liquids and solids as such.

            2H⁺(aq) + 2NO₃^-(aq) + Ca²⁺(aq) + 2 OH^-(aq) ----> Ca²⁺(aq) + 2NO₃^-(aq) + 2 H₂O(l)

# Step 2: Cancel the terms which are common on both sides of the reaction. The resulting equation is net ionic equation-

            2H⁺(aq) + 2 OH^-(aq) ----> 2 H₂O(l)