Question

what is the net ionic equation for this reaction?
h3po4+3naoh=3h2o+napo4

Answer 1

For a reaction equation to balence we must write correct molecular formula of each of reactants and products. Then we must have equal number of atoms of each element both side the equation as well as overall charge must be same in both the sides of the equation.

For ionic equation, we write only the ionic form i.e.ions participating in the reaction and ignore other ions.

Your given equation in correct form is:

h3po4+3naoh=3h2o+na₃po4

Now applyng these facts for the given equation, we can write it in ionic form which is simply an acid base neutralisation reactionin which 3H⁺ coming from H3PO4 and 3OH^- coming from 3NaOH (PO₄^3- , Na⁺ do not take part in reaction) as:

3H⁺ + 3OH^- = 3H₂O