Question

What is the net ionic equation for the reaction between aqueous ammonia and hydrochloric acid?

Answer 1

`NH_3(aq) + H_3O^+ rarr NH_4^+ + H_2O(l)`

Explanation:

Alternatively, I could have written:

`NH_3(aq) + H^+ rarr NH_4^+`

In both cases, the chloride ion, `Cl^-`, which was the counterion of `H^+` was simply along for the ride, and did not take part in the reaction. Of course, we could isolate ammonium chloride, `NH_4Cl`, if we chose to do so.