Fundamentals J.9

[Sadhana Jeyakumar 2J]

For question 9, we are asked to identify the salt that is produced from a list of acid–base neutralization reactions. We are also asked to write the complete ionic equation. Could someone explain how we know when and when not to split up the acids, bases, and salts in the complete ionic equations?

For instance, for KOH + CH3COOH, why is the complete equation K+ + OH- + CH3COOH --> CH3CO2^- + K+ + H2O and not this:

K+ + OH- + CH3COO- + H+ --> CH3COOK + H2O

[Rhea Jain 2I]

For your reactants, the acid does not dissociate because it is a strong acid and it is donating its H+ to the hydroxide group of the base. This is the case of c and d as well. For b, both the reactants dissociate because they are both weak. I don't think the salts are ever combined in the product, but you can deduce what it will end up being if the question asks for the salt.