Question

When ammonium nitrate is added to a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water, the Mg(OH)2 dissolves. Write a net ionic equation to show how this occurs. Do not include physical states and use the smallest possible integer coefficients.

Answer 1

Net ionic:
`Mg(OH)_(2)+2NH_(4)^(+)\rightarrow Mg^(2+)+2NH_(3)+2H_(2)O`

Step-by-step explanation:

`OH^(-)` in
`Mg(OH)_(2)` reacts with
`NH_(4)^(+)` to form
`NH_(3)` and
`H_(2)O`.

Due to this acid-base reaction,
`Mg(OH)_(2)` become soluble whenever
`NH_(4)NO_(3)` is added to suspension of
`Mg(OH)_(2)`.

In this reaction,
`NH_(4)NO_(3)` acts as an acid and
`Mg(OH)_(2)` acts as a base.

Molecular equation:
`Mg(OH)_(2)+2NH_(4)NO_(3)\rightarrow Mg(NO_(3))_(2)+2NH_(3)+2H_(2)O`

Total ionic:
`Mg(OH)_(2)+2NH_(4)^(+)+2NO_(3)^(-)\rightarrow Mg^(2+)+2NO_(3)^(-)+2NH_(3)+2H_(2)O`

Net ionic:
`Mg(OH)_(2)+2NH_(4)^(+)\rightarrow Mg^(2+)+2NH_(3)+2H_(2)O`