Question

In the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride, the spectator ion is _______.

• A. $A{g}^{+}$
• B. $C{l}^{-}$
• C. $N{O}_3^{-}$
• D. All the above

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$N{O}_3^{-}$

In aqueous medium we have:

$A{g}^{+}\left(aq\right)+N{O}_3^{-}\left(aq\right)+N{a}^{+}\left(aq\right)+C{l}^{-}\left(aq\right)\to AgCl\left(s\right)+N{a}^{+}\left(aq\right)+N{O}_3^{-}(aq$

If we compare the aqueous solutions before and after the reaction, sodium and nitrate ions are present in both solutions. They do not undergo any chemical change at all. These ions are called spectator ions since they don't participate in the chemical reaction at all (they just "watch").

C is correct