Balanced chemical reaction:
Pb(NO₃)₂(aq) + K₂SO₄(aq) → PbSO₄(s) + 2KNO₃(aq).
Ionic reaction:
Pb²⁺(aq) + 2NO₃⁻(aq) + 2K⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → PbSO₄(s) + 2K⁺(aq) + 2NO₃⁻(aq).
Net ionic reaction:
Pb²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → PbSO₄(s).
(s) means solid (not dissolved in water).
According to principle of mass conservation, number of atoms must be equal on both side of balanced chemical reaction.
Explanation: Reaction when aqueous lead (II) nitrate reacts with aqueous potassium sulfate to produce solid lead(II) sulfate and aqueous potassium nitrate is:
[tex]Pb(NO_3)_2(aq.)+K_2SO_4(aq.)\rightarrow PbSO_4(s)+2KNO_3(aq.)[/tex]
Ionic equation for the above chemical reaction is:
[tex]Pb^{2+}(aq.)+2NO_3^-(aq.)+2K^+(aq.)+SO_4^{2-}(aq.)\rightarrow PbSO_4(s)+2K^+(aq.)+2NO_3^-(aq.)[/tex]
Solid [tex]PbSO_4[/tex] does not break down because it does not interact with the water molecules.
Net ionic equation for the above reaction is:
[tex]Pb^{2+}(aq.)+SO_4^{2-}\rightarrow PbSO_4(s)[/tex]
