[thomas]

Members,
Why do Professors and High School teachers insist so much on Net Ionic Equations? To me they serve little purpose as they leave out half of the problem...

any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Thomas

[Borek]

Why do Professors and High School teachers insist so much on Net Ionic Equations? To me they serve little purpose as they leave out half of the problem...

They put attention to what is important...

Imagine mixing Ba(NO3)2 or Ba(CH3COO)2 or BaCl2 with Na2SO4, or H2SO4, or  K2SO4, or (NH4)2SO4, or FeSo4, of Fe2(SO4)3 - to name a few.

I am going to write one equation describing what really happens:

Ba2+ + SO4(2-) -> BaSO4(s)

See you later, when you are done with balancing all 18 equations

[JeffH]

The key is that when you are talking about ionic equations you are talking about aqueous reactions.

If the species are soluble, those nitrates (for example) will wander off and play no part in the reaction.  So leaving out the unneccesary half of the problem is exactly the point.