Build Your Reaction
The calculator supports precipitation, strong acid plus strong base neutralization, and strong acid gas evolution patterns.
Example Data Table
| Case | Representative molecular equation | Representative net ionic equation | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver chloride precipitation | NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq) | Ag+(aq) + Cl−(aq) → AgCl(s) | Precipitate forms |
| Barium sulfate precipitation | BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → BaSO4(s) + 2 NaCl(aq) | Ba2+(aq) + SO42−(aq) → BaSO4(s) | Precipitate forms |
| Strong acid and base | HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) | H+(aq) + OH−(aq) → H2O(l) | Water forms |
| Acid and carbonate | 2 HCl(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → 2 NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) | 2 H+(aq) + CO32−(aq) → H2O(l) + CO2(g) | Gas forms |
Formula Used
Molecular equation: Write balanced formulas with states for every reactant and product.
Complete ionic equation: Dissociate soluble strong electrolytes into ions, but keep solids, liquids, and gases intact.
Net ionic equation: Complete ionic equation minus spectator ions.
Charge rule: The sum of coefficient × ionic charge must match on both sides.
Balance rule: Every atom count must remain equal before and after the reaction.
Common reaction cores: H+ + OH− → H2O, Ag+ + Cl− → AgCl(s), 2 H+ + CO32− → H2O + CO2.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the reaction mode that matches your aqueous chemistry problem.
- Choose the ions or salt pattern from the form controls.
- Submit the form to place the results below the header and above the form.
- Read the balanced molecular, complete ionic, and net ionic equations.
- Review the spectator ions, driving force, and reaction note.
- Use the graph to compare species coefficients at a glance.
- Download a CSV summary or export the visible result section as a PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a net ionic equation?
A net ionic equation shows only the species that actually change during the reaction. It removes spectator ions that appear unchanged on both sides of the complete ionic equation.
2. Why are spectator ions removed?
Spectator ions do not participate in bond formation, gas evolution, or neutralization. Removing them makes the chemically meaningful change easier to see and check.
3. When should compounds be dissociated?
Dissociate soluble strong electrolytes in aqueous solution. Keep precipitates, liquids, gases, and weak electrolytes intact when writing the complete ionic and net ionic equations.
4. How does the calculator decide whether a precipitate forms?
It applies a simplified solubility-rule set. Alkali, ammonium, nitrate, and acetate salts stay soluble, while several carbonates, hydroxides, sulfides, phosphates, and selected halides or sulfates can precipitate.
5. Can this calculator handle acid and base reactions?
Yes. The neutralization mode balances strong acid and strong base reactions, then cancels spectator ions to produce the net ionic water-forming equation.
6. Can it show gas-evolution net ionic equations?
Yes. The gas-evolving salt mode covers carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfite, and sulfide patterns with a strong acid, then returns the simplified ionic reaction.
7. Why might the page return no reaction?
If all products remain soluble, there is no precipitation, gas release, or water formation driving the reaction. In that case, a separate net ionic equation is not meaningful.
8. Are these results suitable for every advanced chemistry course?
They are strong for common aqueous reaction patterns, but your class may use expanded solubility rules, weak electrolyte exceptions, or redox methods beyond this page.