Chapter 8, Problem 17A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation :

The net ionic equation for the reaction between sodium oxalate and calcium chloride in an aqueous solution must be written.

Concept Introduction :

A net ionic equation is the representation of a chemical reaction in which the common ions to reactant and product side (spectator ions) are canceled.

Sodium oxalate and calcium chloride react to produce sodium chloride and precipitate of calcium oxalate.

Answer to Problem 17A

The net ionic equation for the reaction between sodium oxalate and calcium chloride in an aqueous solution is given below:

  ${\text{Ca}}^{\text{2+}}{\text{(aq)+C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}{}^{\text{2-}}\text{(aq)}\to {\text{CaC}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}\text{(s)}\text{.}$

Explanation of Solution

The total ionic equation for the reaction between sodium oxalate and calcium chloride in an aqueous solution is given below:

  ${\text{2Na}}^{\text{+}}{\text{(aq)+C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}{}^{\text{2-}}{\text{(aq)+Ca}}^{\text{2+}}\text{(aq)}+{\text{2Cl}}^{\text{-}}\text{(aq)}\to {\text{ CaC}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}{\text{(s)+2Na}}^{\text{+}}\text{(aq)}+{\text{2Cl}}^{\text{-}}\text{(aq)}\text{.}$

It can be seen that there are ${\text{2Na}}^{+}$ (aq) and 2 ${\text{Cl}}^{-}$ (aq) in both the reactant side and the product side. These are spectator ions that must be canceled to get the following net ionic equation.

  ${\text{Ca}}^{\text{2+}}{\text{(aq)+C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}{}^{\text{2-}}\text{(aq)}\to {\text{CaC}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}\text{(s)}\text{.}$