What Does NaOH(aq) Mean?

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SUMMARY

The notation NaOH(aq) indicates that sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water, which is crucial for understanding its behavior in chemical reactions. The discussion highlights the importance of aqueous solutions in experiments, particularly when balancing chemical equations, such as NaOH(aq) + Fe(NO3)3(aq). It also clarifies that the (aq) notation should not be bold or italicized, but rather formatted as subscript. This distinction is essential for accurate chemical representation.

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What is this bolded part?

NaOH(aq)

Mind you, the bolded part is subscripted. I've seen that once before but don't remember reading anything about it.
 
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It means aqueous.
 
Is it used for anything or is it simply there?
 
AngelShare said:
Is it used for anything or is it simply there?
:smile: It indicates that the Sodium Hydroxide is dissolved in water.
 
What's that got to do with what I'm doing though?:bugeye:

Nyah, I figured that'd be at least a slightly amusing question.:smile:
 
it has important implications, depends on which experiment your doing.
 
Aqueous solutions are solutions in which the solvent is water.

An example is HCl. Most people refer to this as hydrochloric acid. But in reality it is only an acid if the gases are dissolved in water.
 
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it has important implications, depends on which experiment your doing.

I'm balancing an equation-- NaOH(aq) + Fe(NO3)3(aq) -->
 
yeah, you can write out any important net ionic equations. The NaOH will actually be dissolved to Na+ and OH- right (and the same for iron II nitrate); except you might want to see if you've got any precipitates or anything else for a net ionic equations.
 
  • #10
AngelShare said:
NaOH(aq)

Mind you, the bolded part is subscripted.

Wrong. It should be the same size as rest of the text, and not bold nor italic.Borek
 
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  • #11
What do you mean, wrong? How could I be wrong by stating what I see right in front of me? O_o

And it isn't bold or italic...
 
  • #12
I didn't mean you are wrong. I mean (aq) should be the same size as the rest of the text - if it is subscripted, book (or any other source you are looking at) uses it improperly.Borek
 
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  • #13
Ah, okay, thanks. ^_^
 

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