Which one of the following equations is the net ionic equation for the reaction of aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) ? HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) H + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + Na + (aq) + OH - (aq) → Na + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + H2O (l) H + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + Na + (aq) + OH - (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) H + (aq) + OH - (aq) → H2O (l)

H + (aq) + OH - (aq) → H2O (l)

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

aqueous sodium hydroxide = NaOH (aq)

aqueous hydrochloric acid = HCl (aq)

Step 2: The (un) balanced equation

HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

For 1 mol HCl we need 1 mol NaOH to produce 1 mol NaCl and 1 mol H2O

This equation is already balanced.

Step 3: The net ionic equation

H + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + Na + (aq) + OH - (aq) → Na + (aq) + Cl - (aq) + H2O (l)

The net ionic equation, for which spectator ions are omitted - remember that spectator ions are those ions located on both sides of the equation - will, after canceling those spectator ions in both side, look like this:

H + (aq) + OH - (aq) → H2O (l) (The last option is correct)