What is the net ionic equation for the reaction between hydroiodic acid, and potassium hydroxide?

1 Answer
Oct 13, 2016

This is simply: #HO^(-) + H^(+) rarr H_2O(aq)# OR #HO^(-) + H_3O^(+) rarr 2H_2O(aq)#

Explanation:

And the complete equation:

#NaOH(aq) + HI(aq) rarr NaI(aq) +H_2O(l)#

So this is an acid base neutralization. Sodium and iodide ions are along for the ride, and remain solvated aqua ions in aqueous solution: i.e. we write #NaI(aq)# or #Na^(+)# and #I^-#; at a molecular level #Na^(+)(aq)# #=# #Na(OH_2)_6^+# for instance.

Bond making is conceived to occur between the hydronium ion, #H_3O^+#, and the hydroxide ion, #HO^-# to form 2 equiv of water:

#HO^(-) + H_3O^+ rarr 2H_2O#

Mass is balanced, and charge is balanced in all these equations (I think so anyway), so these are reasonable equations.