The polyatomic nitrate ion (NO3−) is present in both the products and the reactants of the chemical equation shown below. Ba(NO3)2 + 2LiOH → Ba(OH)2 + 2LiNO3

How many nitrate ions are in the products and the reactants of the chemical equation?

There is one nitrate ion in the products, and two in the reactants of this equation.

Explanation:

1: We know a nitrate ion has the formula , so we just need to count how many of them are on each side of the equation.

2: To find how many are in the reactants of the equation, you look at the left hand side (before the arrow). You can see the section , which shows that there are two nitrate ions in the reactant side (as seen by the little 2).

3: To find how many are on the products side, you do the same thing - this time there is only one in the lithium nitrate.

So, there is one nitrate ion in the products, and two in the reactants of this equation.