What is the balanced net ionic equation for sodium hydroxide and phosphoric acid?

1 Answer
Feb 7, 2018

Well, phosphoric acid, #H_3PO_4# behaves as a diacid in water....

Explanation:

The parent equation is....

#2NaOH(aq) + H_3PO_4(aq) stackrel(H_2O)rarr Na_2HPO_4(aq) + 2H_2O(l)#

But since the sodium ions are essentially along for the ride, they may be removed from both sides of the equation....

And so....

#H_3PO_4+2HO^(-)(aq) rarr HPO_4^(2-) + 2H_2O#

And this represents NET CHEMICAL CHANGE....