Write a balanced net ionic equation for the reaction of each of the following oxides with water: (b) K2O, (c) SO3.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the type of oxides given. K2O is a basic oxide, and SO3 is an acidic oxide.

Step 2: Write the reaction of each oxide with water. For K2O, the reaction is K2O + H2O → 2KOH. For SO3, the reaction is SO3 + H2O → H2SO4.

Step 3: Dissociate the products into their ionic forms. KOH dissociates into 2K⁺ and 2OH⁻. H2SO4 dissociates into 2H⁺ and SO4²⁻.

Step 4: Write the complete ionic equations. For K2O: K2O + H2O → 2K⁺ + 2OH⁻. For SO3: SO3 + H2O → 2H⁺ + SO4²⁻.

Step 5: Cancel out the spectator ions to write the net ionic equations. For K2O, there are no spectator ions, so the net ionic equation is the same as the complete ionic equation. For SO3, the net ionic equation is also the same as the complete ionic equation since there are no spectator ions.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Net Ionic Equations

A net ionic equation represents the chemical species that are involved in a reaction, excluding spectator ions. It focuses on the actual chemical change occurring in the solution, highlighting the ions and molecules that participate directly in the reaction. This simplification helps in understanding the essential components of the reaction and is particularly useful in aqueous solutions.

Acid-Base Reactions

Acid-base reactions involve the transfer of protons (H+) between reactants. In the context of oxides reacting with water, basic oxides like K2O react with water to form hydroxides, while acidic oxides like SO3 react to form acids. Understanding the nature of the oxide (basic or acidic) is crucial for predicting the products of the reaction and writing the corresponding net ionic equation.

Dissociation in Water

When ionic compounds dissolve in water, they dissociate into their constituent ions. This process is essential for writing net ionic equations, as it allows us to identify which ions are present in solution. For example, K2O dissociates to form K+ and O2- ions, while SO3 reacts with water to form H2SO4, illustrating how the solubility and dissociation of compounds influence the overall reaction.