Question

Strontium compounds are often used in flares because their flame

colour is bright red. One industrial process to produce low-solubility

strontium compounds (that are less affected by getting wet) involves

the reaction of aqueous solutions of strontium nitrate and sodium

carbonate. Write the balanced chemical equation, total ionic equa-

tion, and net ionic equation for this reaction.

Answer 1

Sr(NO₃)₂(aq) + Na₂CO₃(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s) + 2 NaNO₃(aq)

Sr²⁺(aq) + 2 NO₃⁻(aq) + 2 Na⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s) + 2 Na⁺(aq) + 2 NO₃⁻(aq)

Sr²⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s)

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's consider the molecular equation that occurs when aqueous solutions of strontium nitrate and sodium carbonate react. This is a double displacement reaction.

Sr(NO₃)₂(aq) + Na₂CO₃(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s) + 2 NaNO₃(aq)

The total ionic equation includes all the ions and the insoluble species.

Sr²⁺(aq) + 2 NO₃⁻(aq) + 2 Na⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s) + 2 Na⁺(aq) + 2 NO₃⁻(aq)

The net ionic equation includes only the ions that participate in the reaction and the molecular species.

Sr²⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq) ⇒ SrCO₃(s)