How can I write dissociation equations?

1 Answer

To dissociate means to take apart.

When ionic compounds (compounds made from metals and non-metals) like sodium chloride NaCl or iron(III) sulfate Fe2(SO4)3 are dissolved in water, they come apart into positive (metal) ions and negative (non-metal) ions.

When you write a dissociation reaction you separate the two ions, place their charges above their symbols, and then balance the entire equation.

For example, the dissociation of sodium chloride would look like this:

NaClNa++Cl

The dissociation of iron(III) sulfate would look like this:

Fe2(SO4)32Fe3++3SO24