Net Ionic Equations
▶︎ Watch it animatedinteractive step-through · ~3 min · optionalA net ionic equation shows only the species that actually change in a reaction. Start from the molecular equation, split the strong electrolytes into their ions (the complete ionic equation), then cancel the spectator ions — the ones that appear unchanged on both sides. Solids, weak acids, and gases stay together, undissociated.
The mistakes cluster around what to split and what to cancel: only strong, soluble electrolytes dissociate (not solids or weak acids), and only truly identical ions cancel. Getting the dissociation and cancellation rules right is what makes a net ionic equation correct.
The work
3 ways in · any order
Lesson
Net Ionic Equations
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Net ionic equations keep only the species that change, after dissociating strong electrolytes and canceling spectators. The lesson works the three-equation sequence, then closes with a ten-scenario check.
Diagnostic
10-item topic check
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Ten items spanning the Topic 4.2 misconceptions: assuming a partner swap always reacts, splitting a solid product or a weak acid, misjudging solubility, and canceling ions that are not identical.
Targeted Practice
Drill a single misconception
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Pick one of the failure modes you missed and drill it on its own. The round is adaptive: two correct in a row clears the misconception and moves you to the next.