Ion Investigator

ION INVESTIGATOR:

The Case of the Disappearing Spectators

START

YOUR MISSION

You’ve been called to solve a mystery in the lab. Some ions are pretending to react — but they’re just spectators!Your job: find the real reacting particles by writing complete and net ionic equations.

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TRAINING CASE

Investigation Suspect: NaCl(aq) + AgNO₃(aq) → ?

Complete ionic equation

Net ionic equation

Molecular equation

NaCl(aq) + AgNO₃(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO₃(aq)

Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) + Ag⁺(aq) + NO₃⁻(aq) → AgCl(s) + Na⁺(aq) + NO₃⁻(aq)

Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s)

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Investigation Suspect: BaCl₂(aq) + Na₂SO₄(aq) → ?

CASE 1

Complete ionic equation

Molecular equation

Net ionic equation

BaCl₂(aq) + Na₂SO₄(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2NaCl(aq)

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Ba²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → BaSO₄(s)

CASE 2

Molecular equation

Investigation Suspect: HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → ?

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H₂O(l) + NaCl(aq)

Complete ionic equation

H⁺ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq) + Na⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq) → H₂O (l) + Na⁺ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq)

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Net ionic equation

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Investigation Suspect: Zn(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → ?

CASE 3

Molecular equation

Complete ionic equation

Net ionic equation

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Write molecular equation on whiteboard!

Zn(s) + Cu²⁺ (aq) + SO₄²⁻ (aq) → Zn²⁺ (aq) + SO₄²⁻ (aq) + Cu(s)

Zn(s) + Cu²⁺(aq) → Zn²⁺(aq) + Cu(s)

FINAL MISSION

• CaCl₂ + Na₂CO₃ → ?
• KNO₃ + NaCl → ?
• KBr + AgNO₃ → ?

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Identify which of these will have no reaction and explain why. How would you write a complete or net ionic equation for "no reaction"?

DEBRIEF

Net ionic equations

Complete ionic equations

Molecular equations

How did you decide which ions to include?

How did you know what ions compounds split apart into?

How could you predict the products and balance the equation?

Conclude your investigation...

CONGRATULATIONS!

ION INVESTIGATOR