What is the complete ionic equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid with potassium hydroxide?

1 Answer
Dec 5, 2016

H^+ + Cl^- + K^+ + OH^- = K^+ Cl^- + H_2O

Explanation:

Hydrochloric acid is HCl. This is an ionic substance so in water it breaks apart into ions H^+ + Cl_-

Potassium Hydroxide is also an ionic substance it also breaks apart in water into ions K^+ + OH^-

So the complete ionic equation for the reaction is

H^+ + Cl^- + K^+ + OH^- = K^+ + Cl^- + H_2O

The Hydrogen ion and the Hydroxide ions combine to form water.

The net ionic equation is

H^+ + OH^- = H_2O

This is because the Cl^- + K^+ ions do not undergo any changes therefore are not part of the net ionic equation.