Acids and Bases....?

Question

write balanced equations for the following reactions:

a. Sulphuric acid and potassium carbonate

b. hydrochloric acid and lithium

c. nitric acid and calcium hydroxide

d. sulphuric acid and calcium

e. nitric acid and magnesium


If anyone has the first clue about how to do this then please please help me. I've read so many books on doing this but I just don't get it at all. I know the first two equations are already balanced, I just don't have a clue about cancelling out the spectators etc and writting the ionic bit properly.

This is for an assignment so I have to get it right lol.

Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I gather from your question that you're supposed to write these out as net ionic equations (total ionic equations would leave the spectator ions in). Basically, you have these compounds in aqueous solution, so they split into their cations and anions and are denoted with a subscript (aq). If they are metals, like the Ca and Mg are, they are written with a subscript (s) denoting solid. If there is an insoluble compound or a weak acid or base, it is written in molecular form, NOT split into cation and anion pair.

You write out the split cation and anion as charged species (+ or -) on both sides of the equation and then cancel out any ions that are the same on both sides (i.e. do not change during the process). These are your spectator ions. As for products, it looks like mainly acid-base and displacement of hydrogen processes. I hope that helps! Cheers!

Answer 2

a. 2H2SO4 + KCO3 -------> 2K2O+ 2H2SO4 +2CO2(balance it yourself)

b. 2HCl + 2Li ------->2 LiCl + H2(balanced)


c. 2HNO3 + Ca(OH)2---------> Ca(NO3)2 + 2H20 (balanced)



d. H2SO4 + Ca ----------> CaSO4 + H2(balanced)

e. 2HNO3 + Mg ------> Mg(NO3)2 + H2(Balanced)

generally Metal of salt react with non metal of salt

e.g

AB + CD React to form AD & BC