9 Important Spectator Ions Examples You Need To Know

Spectator ions examples are those ions which are present in a reaction but they do not participate in the reaction. They are present on both reactant and product sides but are usually canceled out in the net chemical reaction. The net chemical equation only shows those chemicals which have undergone a chemical transformation.

  1. Spectator ions examples of net reaction between copper(II)chloride and potassium phosphate
  2. Spectator ions examples of reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride
  3. Spectator ions  examples of ionic reactions between sodium chromate and lead(II)nitrate
  4. Spectator ions examples of the chemical reaction between sodium hydroxide and copper sulfate
  5.  Spectator ions examples of ionic reaction between potassium hydroxide and magnesium nitrate
  6. Spectator ions examples of reaction between sodium iodide and silver nitrate
  7. Spectator ions examples of reaction between magnesium chloride and silver nitrate
  8. Spectator ions examples of reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid
  9. Spectator ions examples of reaction between lead(II)nitrate and potassium iodide
  10. Spectator ions examples of the neutralization reaction between potassium hydroxide and nitric acid

Spectator ions examples of net reaction between copper(II)chloride and potassium phosphate

To find the spectator ions in the chemical reaction it is important to write the balanced chemical reaction between CuCl2 and K3PO4. The dissociated ionic reactions eliminate the spectator ions examples from both the reactant and products side. This provides a net ionic reaction. Over here the spectator ions examples are 6K+ and 6Cl. The net ionic equation is

spectator ions examples
Spectator ions examples are K+ and Cl-

Spectator ions examples of reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride

Silver nitrate and sodium chloride react in an aqueous medium and give silver chloride precipitate and ionic compound NaNO3

As shown in the above reaction NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl and AgNO3 dissociates into Ag+ and NO3. So this provides us with a net chemical equation as shown below and two spectator ions examples Na+ and NO3.

spec2
Spectator ions examples are Na+ and NO3-

Spectator ions examples of ionic reactions between sodium chromate and lead(II)nitrate

The ionic reaction between aqueous solutions of Na2CrO4 and Pb(NO3)2 gives a yellow precipitate of PbCrO4 and the ionic solution of NaNO3. In their ionic equation, the spectator ions examples are eliminated and the net ionic equation is written. The spectator ions examples in the chemical reaction are 2Na+ and 2NO3 as shown in the equation.

spec3
Spectator ions examples are Na+ and NO3-

Spectator ions examples of the chemical reaction between sodium hydroxide and copper sulfate

Sodium hydroxide reacts with copper sulfate by double displacement reaction to give copper hydroxide and sodium sulfate. Their net ionic reaction shows that sulfate and sodium ions remain dissolved in an aqueous medium. Hence sodium and sulfate ions are the spectator ions examples.

cuso4
Spectator ions examples are Na+ and sulfate ions

Spectator ions examples of ionic reaction between potassium hydroxide and magnesium nitrate

Both KOH and Mg(NO3)2 exist as aqueous solutions. Here magnesium reacts with hydroxide ions to form a solid compound of magnesium hydroxide. The potassium and nitrate ions here are spectator ions examples that are dissolved in the aqueous medium.

magnesium
Spectator ions examples are K+ and NO3-

Spectator ions examples of reaction between sodium iodide and silver nitrate

Sodium iodide and silver nitrate react to form a precipitate of silver iodide and ionic solution sodium nitrate. According to the balanced and ionic chemical equations sodium, iron, and nitrate ions are spectator ions examples as they are not directly involved in the product formation.

sodium
Spectator ions examples are Na+ and NO3-

Spectator ions examples of reaction between magnesium chloride and silver nitrate

Aqueous solutions of magnesium chloride and silver nitrate react to form solid silver chloride and aqueous magnesium nitrate. The net ionic equation shows that magnesium ions and nitrate ions are spectator ions examples.

net equation
Spectator ions examples are Ag+ and Cl-

Spectator ions examples of reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid

The reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid is one of the most common neutralization reactions which leads to the synthesis of neutral compound sodium chloride and water. Here the spectator ions examples are H+ and OH.

neutral
Spectator ions examples are H+ and OH-

Spectator ions examples of reaction between lead(II)nitrate and potassium iodide

Lead(II)nitrate and potassium iodide undergoes a double displacement reaction. This leads to the formation of lead(II)iodide and potassium nitrate. Here according to the net ionic reaction potassium ion and nitrate ion are spectator ions examples. Also, potassium nitrate is soluble in the aqueous medium.

ki
Spectator ions examples are Pb2+ and I-

Spectator ions examples of the neutralization reaction between potassium hydroxide and nitric acid

This is a neutralization reaction where acid reacts with a base to give salt with the evolution of heat and water. In this reaction, KOH reacts with HNO3 to give KNO3 and H2O. The spectator ions examples are the potassium ion and the nitrate ion.

hno3
Spectator ions examples are H+ and OH-

Conclusion

Looking at above chemical equations in the article, spectator ions examples can be summarized as those anions or cations which do not show any change on both sides of the reaction and does not affect the equilibrium. Spectator ions examples do not react with water and hence do not affect the pH of the reaction.