Net Ionic Equation
An equation showing only the species that actually change during a reaction, with all spectator ions removed.
Formula / equation
Ag⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → AgCl(s)
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
By stripping out the unchanged ions, the net ionic equation reveals that many apparently different reactions are chemically identical — every strong acid–strong base neutralisation reduces to H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O. Both mass and charge must balance in the final form.
Examples in the real world
CO₃²⁻ + 2H⁺ → H₂O + CO₂ describes any carbonate reacting with any strong acid.