Question

What is the Ionic equation?

Answer 1

Hint: Ions are formed by loss or gain of electrons. Therefore, positively and negatively charged species are ions. Ionic reactions are those in which ionic compounds are involved as reactants and completely dissociated in water.

Complete answer:
Ions are formed by loss or gain of electrons. These are positively and negatively charged species. Ionic reactions are those in which ionic compounds are involved as reactants and completely dissociated in water. The chemical representation of ionic reactions is given by ionic equations. This is illustrated by the following diagram-
\[N{{a}^{+}}+C{{l}^{-}}+A{{g}^{+}}+N{{O}_{3}}^{-}\to AgCl(s)+N{{a}^{+}}+N{{O}_{3}}^{-}\]
In the above chemical equation, \[NaCl\] and \[AgN{{O}_{3}}\] are ionic compounds which dissociate completely in the water and the product \[AgCl\] and \[NaN{{O}_{3}}\] are also ionic ones. However, \[AgCl\] is insoluble in water while \[NaN{{O}_{3}}\] is not.
Therefore, Ionic equations are the chemical representation of ionic reactions.

Additional Information:
During ionic reaction, a large amount is released or evolved. Therefore ionic reactions are exothermic reactions. Besides ionic equations, molecular equations are those in which the participated compounds are shown in the form of molecules. In molecular form, the above equation is represented as
\[NaCl+\,AgN{{O}_{3}}\to AgCl+NaN{{O}_{3}}\].
Ionic compounds are formed by loss or gain of electrons while covalent bonds are formed by sharing of electrons. Electrostatic forces of attraction are present between ionic compounds while hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole and weak van der waal’s forces of attraction are present in covalent compounds.

Note:
 It is important to note that the ionic equation is the chemical representation of ionic reactions. Ionic reactions are those in which ionic compounds are involved as reactants and completely dissociated in water. Ionic reactions release heat and are thus exothermic in nature.