Consider the reaction below:

$Na^{+}+C_2 H_3 O_2^{-}(aq)+H^{+}+Cl^{-} \longrightarrow Na^{+}+Cl^{-}+HC_2 H_3 O_2$

Which is the net ionic equation for the reaction?

A$H ^{+}+ Cl ^{-} \longrightarrow HCl$
B$Na ^{+}+ Cl ^{-} \longrightarrow NaCl$
C$Na ^{+}+ C _2 H _3 O _2^{-} \longrightarrow NaC _2 H _3 O _2$
D$C _2 H _3 O _2^{-}( aq )+ H ^{+} \longrightarrow HC _2 H _3 O _2$

Question

06-11-2026
Chemistry

Answered

Consider the reaction below:

$Na^{+}+C_2 H_3 O_2^{-}(aq)+H^{+}+Cl^{-} \longrightarrow Na^{+}+Cl^{-}+HC_2 H_3 O_2$

Which is the net ionic equation for the reaction?

A$H ^{+}+ Cl ^{-} \longrightarrow HCl$
B$Na ^{+}+ Cl ^{-} \longrightarrow NaCl$
C$Na ^{+}+ C _2 H _3 O _2^{-} \longrightarrow NaC _2 H _3 O _2$
D$C _2 H _3 O _2^{-}( aq )+ H ^{+} \longrightarrow HC _2 H _3 O _2$

Verified Answer :

Related Questions

Why is america called land of the pilgrims pride

Which of these choices is the BEST topic sentence for this presentation A In the early 1900s many Americans needed help from other people B Hull House was a pla

Which quote from the Declaration of Independence shows that the colonists were influenced by John Lockes idea of natural rights We hold these truths to be selfe

Help I have no clue what these are

Who was the first president to make thanksgiving a national holiday

The hardest known natural material is

the term heliocentrism refers to which belief

Maddy made 2250 for babysitting for 5 hours for her aunt Maddy was paid 2100 for 35 hours of babysitting for her neighbor How much more per hour does Maddys nei

Read the quote by the Baron de Montesquieu from The Spirit of the Laws When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person or in the same bo

According to the law of supply what happens to the quantity supplied when prices go up

GinnyAnswer GinnyAnswer · Answer 1 · 2026-11-06T20:25:08-05:00

Analyze the total ionic equation and identify spectator ions that appear on both sides: $\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{Cl}^{-}$.
Eliminate these spectator ions from the reactant and product sides.
Write the remaining species as the net ionic equation: $\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-}(aq) + \text{H}^{+} \longrightarrow \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2$.
The correct option is $\boxed{\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-}(aq) + \text{H}^{+} \longrightarrow \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2}$.

Explanation

Problem Analysis

The given equation is $\text{Na}^{+} + \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-}(aq) + \text{H}^{+} + \text{Cl}^{-} \longrightarrow \text{Na}^{+} + \text{Cl}^{-} + \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2$. A net ionic equation represents the actual chemical change by omitting spectator ions, which are ions present in the same form and state on both sides of the equation. We identify these by comparing the species on the reactant side with those on the product side.

Identifying and Removing Spectator Ions

We observe the reactant side: $\text{Na}^{+}$, $\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-}$, $\text{H}^{+}$, and $\text{Cl}^{-}$. Then we examine the product side: $\text{Na}^{+}$, $\text{Cl}^{-}$, and $\text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2$. Notice that $\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{Cl}^{-}$ appear on both sides of the equation without participating in the reaction. Therefore, these are spectator ions and can be removed.

Finalizing the Net Ionic Equation

By removing the spectator ions $\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{Cl}^{-}$ from both sides, we are left with the ions that actually undergo chemical change: $\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-} + \text{H}^{+} \longrightarrow \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2$. This is the net ionic equation for the reaction, which shows the acetate ion reacting with the hydrogen ion to form acetic acid. Comparing this result with the provided options, the correct choice is $\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^{-}(aq) + \text{H}^{+} \longrightarrow \text{HC}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2$.

Examples

Net ionic equations are essential for understanding the fundamental chemistry of reactions in aqueous solutions. For example, when you neutralize an acidic pool by adding a base, the net ionic equation helps you focus on the actual reaction between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions (or other basic species), ignoring the common 'background' salts like sodium chloride that do not participate in the neutralization. This simplification is vital for analytical chemistry and environmental monitoring, allowing scientists to predict reactions accurately without dealing with excess, non-participating ions.