Write the overall, ionic and net ionic equations for the following reaction.Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH)
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Question

Write the overall, ionic and net ionic equations for the following reaction.Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and potassium hydroxide (KOH)
@nincompoop

liaannne · Answer

Could you help me understand how to do this??

photon336 · Answer

Well, let's start out by writing the equation: 

$$KOH + HCl \rightarrow H_2O + KCl$$ 

in this reaction, we have an acid reacting with a base. to produce salt and water. 

Can you identify which is the acid and base and why?

liaannne · Answer

Okay so the acid would be HCl right? And then the base is KOH

photon336 · Answer

yes, but we're not done yet

liaannne · Answer

Oh okay! And thanks so much for helping me!

photon336 · Answer

A common property of ionic compounds when dissolved in water is that they split up into ions.

photon336 · Answer

so NaCl when dissolved in water, won't be NaCl, and HCL won't be HCL 

$$NaCl \rightarrow Na^+ + Cl^-$$

photon336 · Answer

what would HCl become?

liaannne · Answer

uhm... HCl+?

photon336 · Answer

Remember it is an acid so it's going to give up a proton. 

it will be 

H+ Cl-

liaannne · Answer

Ohhh! All right

photon336 · Answer

So the first step is to break up our equation into ions so in our flask this is what we have 

instead of 

$$NaCl + KOH$$ 

What we actually have is this 

$$H^+ + Cl^- + K^+ + OH^- \rightarrow $$

liaannne · Answer

Ohh wow! Thats really broken down

photon336 · Answer

now we know that this is what happens 

$$H^+ + Cl^- + K^+ + OH^- \rightarrow H_2O + K^+ + Cl^-$$

liaannne · Answer

That makes so much more sense!

photon336 · Answer

now there is something called "spectator ions" what this means is that they don't particpate in the reaction, i.e. they don't react. can you identify them?

liaannne · Answer

I dont, but it would be a negative right?

photon336 · Answer

you notice how H+ and OH- combine to give us water?

liaannne · Answer

Yes, I do :)

photon336 · Answer

what do you notice about K+ and Cl- ?

liaannne · Answer

They are both apart of the equation on either side

photon336 · Answer

yeah they don't participate in the reaction they are called spectator ions. we can eliminate them.

liaannne · Answer

all right!

photon336 · Answer

So this is what i t becomes. 

$$H^+ + OH^- \rightarrow H_2O$$

liaannne · Answer

Oh wow you helped so much thank yu thank you thank you!