Question

The following chemical reaction takes place in aqueous solution: 

MgCl2(aq)+2 NaOH(aq) → Mg(OH)2(3)+2 NaCl(aq) 

Write the net ionic equation for this reaction.

Answer 1

To write the net ionic equation you need to break up molecules which are aqueous.

(Mg2+) + (2Cl-) + (2Na+) + (2OH-) ---> Mg(OH)2 +(2Na+) + (2Cl-)

Mg(OH)2 is not split into ions as it is a solid. Now we need to look on both sides of the equation and cancel the similar terms. So (2Na+) and (2Cl-) gets cancelled.Finally the net ionic equation is:

(Mg2+) + (2OH-) ---> Mg(OH)2