Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Science on 22/05/2021 08:30:06

Title: How to draw a structural equation for aqueous nitrate and free copper ions?
Post by: Science on 22/05/2021 08:30:06

How do you draw the structural equation of a nitrate ion and a free copper ion in water?

Title: Re: How to draw a structural equation for aqueous nitrate and free copper ions?
Post by: Bored chemist on 22/05/2021 13:23:34

Quote from: Science on 22/05/2021 08:30:06

the structural equation

What do you mean by that?

Title: Re: How to draw a structural equation for aqueous nitrate and free copper ions?
Post by: Kryptid on 22/05/2021 20:38:04

If you are talking about structural depictions of molecules, a copper ion would simply be represented by Cu⁺ or Cu²⁺. Nitrate ions are more complex, and would be drawn like this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrate#/media/File:Nitrate-ion-resonance-2D.png

Them being in water wouldn't change that.

Title: Re: How to draw a structural equation for aqueous nitrate and free copper ions?
Post by: Eternal Student on 27/05/2021 18:43:03

  As I recall, ions in water will always have some sort of shell of water molecules around them.  Often, we just have to draw the line somewhere and say a polar bond isn't to be counted as a significant structural bond so it doesn't get shown in any structural formula.
   If you wrie Cu²⁺(aq.)  then you are declaring it is in an aqueous solution and therefore may have a shell of water molecules around it.  I would think that's good enough for school level and sometimes there is a mark for showing the state of reactants and products.