Give the molecular, complete ionic, and net ionic equations for the reaction of ammonia with hydrochloric acid.
To determine the molecular, complete ionic, and net ionic equations for the reaction between ammonia (NH3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), we need to first understand the compounds' formulas and how they react.
Ammonia (NH3) is a base, while hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an acid. When a base reacts with an acid, they form a salt and water.
Step 1: Write the balanced molecular equation.
NH3 + HCl → NH4Cl
In the balanced molecular equation, NH3 reacts with HCl to form NH4Cl (ammonium chloride), a salt.
Step 2: Write the complete ionic equation.
NH3(aq) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
The complete ionic equation separates all the soluble compounds into their individual ions. In this case, NH3 receives an H+ ion from HCl to form NH4+ (ammonium ion), while Cl- remains unchanged.
Step 3: Write the net ionic equation.
NH3(aq) + H+(aq) → NH4+(aq)
The net ionic equation eliminates the spectator ions (ions that do not participate in the reaction) from the complete ionic equation. In this case, the Cl- ions are spectator ions as they remain unchanged on both sides of the equation and are not involved in the reaction. Thus, the net ionic equation represents the actual chemical reaction:
NH3(aq) + H+(aq) → NH4+(aq)
This net ionic equation illustrates that ammonia (NH3) acts as a base, accepting an H+ ion from hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form ammonium (NH4+).