- #1
HunterDX77M
- 43
- 0
Homework Statement
I was doing this problem for HW online, that asks to write the ionic equation for a reaction, but I'm completely stuck. After using all my attempts (i.e., I can no longer submit the answer even if it is right, ) I still couldn't get the right answer. We've only done very simple ionic equations in class, so I couldn't apply what we did in class to the problem. Anyway here is the reaction to make an ionic equation for:
[tex]Ba(OH)_2 (aq) + H_{3}PO_{4} (aq) \rightarrow [/tex]
Homework Equations
Not applicable.
The Attempt at a Solution
Here is the last answer I attempted. Wolframalpha told me that the compound phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was "very soluable" so I separated it into ions. That was about all it was able to help me with. I assumed that the phosphate separated from the hydrogen atoms to combine with the barium and create an insoluable solid (according to my textbook, any non-alkali metal combined with phosphate is insoluable). So with all that, I thought the ionic equation would logically be:
[tex]3H^{+}(aq) + 2{PO_4}^{-3}(aq) + 3Ba^{+2}(aq) + 2OH^{-}(aq) \rightarrow Ba_3(PO_4)_2(s) + 3H^{+}(aq) + 2OH^{-}(aq)[/tex]
This is wrong as my fifth and final attempt told me . . . The super vague reason the system gives me for this being wrong is that "Your answer contains an ambiguous or incomplete reaction equation. Check all the components on the reactant-side of the equation. Check all the components on the product-side of the equation." If you need anymore information on my thought process or anything like that, please ask. Thanks in advance for any help.