Consider the total ionic equation below.

[tex]\[ 2 NH _4^{+} + 2 OH ^{-} + 2 H ^{+} + SO _4^{2-} \rightarrow 2 NH _4^{+} + 2 H _2 O + SO _4^{2-} \][/tex]

What are the spectator ions in this equation?

A. [tex]\( H ^{+} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( OH ^{-} \)[/tex]
B. [tex]\( H ^{+} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( NH _4^{+} \)[/tex]
C. [tex]\( NH _4^{+} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( SO _4^{2-} \)[/tex]
D. [tex]\( SO _4^{2-} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( OH ^{-} \)[/tex]



Answer :

To determine the spectator ions in the given total ionic equation, let's first understand what spectator ions are. Spectator ions are ions that do not change their form during the reaction. They appear unchanged on both the reactant and product sides of the equation.

Given the total ionic equation:
[tex]\[ 2 NH_4^+ + 2 OH^- + 2 H^+ + SO_4^{2-} \rightarrow 2 NH_4^+ + 2 H_2O + SO_4^{2-} \][/tex]

Let's break down the ions on each side of the equation:

Reactants:
- [tex]\( 2 NH_4^+ \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( 2 OH^- \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( 2 H^+ \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex]

Products:
- [tex]\( 2 NH_4^+ \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( 2 H_2O \)[/tex] (neutral water, not an ion)
- [tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex]

Now, we look for the ions that appear unchanged on both the reactant and product sides.

### Analysis:
- [tex]\( NH_4^+ \)[/tex]: Present on both sides ([tex]\( 2 NH_4^+ \)[/tex] on the reactant side and [tex]\( 2 NH_4^+ \)[/tex] on the product side).
- [tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex]: Present on both sides ([tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex] on the reactant side and [tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex] on the product side).
- [tex]\( OH^- \)[/tex]: Present only on the reactant side, reacts to form water ([tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex]).
- [tex]\( H^+ \)[/tex]: Present only on the reactant side, reacts to form water ([tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex]).

The ions that are unchanged and appear on both sides of the equation are [tex]\( NH_4^+ \)[/tex] and [tex]\( SO_4^{2-} \)[/tex].

Therefore, the spectator ions in this equation are:
[tex]\[ NH_4^+ \text{ and } SO_4^{2-} \][/tex]

Thus, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ NH_4^+ \text{ and } SO_4^{2-} \][/tex]