The fluoride ion reacts with water to produce HF. (a) Write out the chemical equation for this reaction.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the reactants and products. In this case, the reactants are the fluoride ion (F-) and water (H2O). The product is hydrofluoric acid (HF).
2. Step 2: Write the chemical equation with the reactants on the left and the products on the right. The arrow in the middle represents the direction of the reaction. So, the initial equation would look like this: F- + H2O -> HF
3. Step 3: Balance the equation. In this case, the equation is already balanced, as there is one atom of each element on both sides of the equation.
4. Step 4: Include the state of each substance. In this case, the fluoride ion is in aqueous solution (aq), water is a liquid (l), and hydrofluoric acid is also in aqueous solution (aq). So, the final balanced chemical equation is: F-(aq) + H2O(l) -> HF(aq)
5. Step 5: Note that this is a simplified version of the reaction. In reality, the fluoride ion reacts with water to produce hydrofluoric acid and a hydroxide ion (OH-), so the complete balanced equation would be: F-(aq) + H2O(l) -> HF(aq) + OH-(aq)

Key Concepts

Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction involves the transformation of reactants into products through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. In this case, the fluoride ion (F-) reacts with water (H2O) to form hydrofluoric acid (HF). Understanding the nature of reactants and products is essential for writing balanced chemical equations.

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Fluoride ion (F-) is an example of an ionic species, while hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a molecular compound. Ionic compounds typically form from the transfer of electrons between metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds result from the sharing of electrons. Recognizing the difference helps in predicting the behavior of substances in reactions.

Acid-Base Chemistry

The reaction of fluoride ion with water can be understood through the lens of acid-base chemistry, where HF acts as a weak acid. In this context, water can act as a base, accepting a proton (H+) from HF. This concept is crucial for understanding the properties of acids and bases in aqueous solutions.