Question

What are the spectator ions in
$Mg(s)+Z{{n}^{2+}}+2NO_{3}^{-}\to M{{g}^{2+}}+2NO_{3}^{-}+Zn\left( s \right)$

Answer 1

The ions which are not going to participate in the chemical reaction and stay throughout the chemical reaction means before and after the chemical reaction also they are present and do not precipitate in the solution.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to find the spectator ions in the given chemical reaction.
- The given chemical reaction is as follows.
$Mg(s)+Z{{n}^{2+}}+2NO_{3}^{-}\to M{{g}^{2+}}+2NO_{3}^{-}+Zn\left( s \right)$
- In the above chemical reaction magnesium is going to replace the zinc metal from its zinc nitrate chemical and forms magnesium nitrate chemical as the product.
- In the given chemical reaction magnesium is undergoing oxidation (loss of electrons) and zinc is undergoing reduction reaction (gain of electrons).
- Means zinc is coming out as a pure metal by taking electrons from magnesium.
- In the throughout the chemical reaction the nitrate anion is not participating at all in the chemical reaction in the form of oxidation and reduction reaction.
- The ion which is not going to participate in the chemical reaction but its presence is must then the ions are called spectator ions.
- In the given chemical reaction the ion with a similar property of acting as a spectator ion is nitrate anion ($NO_{3}^{-}$ ).
- Magnesium is going to convert into magnesium nitrate and zinc nitrate is going to convert into pure zinc Metal.

Note:
Spectator ions after the chemical reaction also will be in solution in aqueous form and do not involve in the chemical reaction at any stage. The ions are not going to be involved in the chemical reaction then those are called spectator ions.