Which one of the following reaction equations is the net ionic equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid with lithium hydroxide? All species are in aqueous solution.

a. Li+ + Cl- = LiCl
b. H+ + OH- = H2O
c. H+ + Cl- + Li+ + OH- = Li+ + Cl- + H2O
d. H+ + Cl- + Li+ + OH- = LiCl + H2O
e. HCl + LiOH = LiCl + H2O

1 Answer
Oscar L.
Dec 8, 2017

The net ionic equation is #"H"^+ + "OH"^{-} \rightarrow "H"_2"O"#.

Explanation:

The net ionic equation consists only of the ions that react s nd the products they form. Here the lithium ions from lithium hydroxide are still the same lithium ions, as if nothing had happened. They did not actually react, so they are not part of the net ionic equation. The same holds true of the chloride ions.

Only the hydrogen and hydroxide ions really reacted, by combining to form water. Pay attention to this net ionic reaction, you will see it a lot when dealing with acids and bases.

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