---
title: "A student prepares a buffer containing comparable amounts of aqueous ammonia, \\(\\text{NH}_3\\text{(aq)}\\), and ammonium chloride, \\(\\text{NH}_4\\text{Cl(aq)}\\). The student then adds a small amount of hydrochloric acid, \\(\\text{HCl(aq)}\\), without exceeding the buffer capacity. Which of the following is the net ionic equation for the principal reaction that occurs?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119425/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:40:15+00:00"
---

# A student prepares a buffer containing comparable amounts of aqueous ammonia, \(\text{NH}_3\text{(aq)}\), and ammonium chloride, \(\text{NH}_4\text{Cl(aq)}\). The student then adds a small amount of hydrochloric acid, \(\text{HCl(aq)}\), without exceeding the buffer capacity. Which of the following is the net ionic equation for the principal reaction that occurs?

A student prepares a buffer containing comparable amounts of aqueous ammonia, \(\text{NH}_3\text{(aq)}\), and ammonium chloride, \(\text{NH}_4\text{Cl(aq)}\). The student then adds a small amount of hydrochloric acid, \(\text{HCl(aq)}\), without exceeding the buffer capacity. Which of the following is the net ionic equation for the principal reaction that occurs?

- **A.** \(\text{H}_3\text{O}^+\text{(aq)}+\text{OH}^-\text{(aq)}\rightarrow 2\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\)
- **B.** \(\text{NH}_4^+\text{(aq)}+\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\rightarrow\text{NH}_3\text{(aq)}+\text{H}_3\text{O}^+\text{(aq)}\)
- **C.** \(\text{H}_3\text{O}^+\text{(aq)}+\text{Cl}^-\text{(aq)}+\text{NH}_3\text{(aq)}\rightarrow\text{NH}_4^+\text{(aq)}+\text{Cl}^-\text{(aq)}+\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\)
- **D.** \(\text{H}_3\text{O}^+\text{(aq)}+\text{NH}_3\text{(aq)}\rightarrow\text{NH}_4^+\text{(aq)}+\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119425/*
