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How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Specification 4.1.1.1, 4.1.2.6, 4.4.1.4, 4.4.2.1 · Paper 1

An ion present in a reaction mixture that remains unchanged and is omitted from the ionic equation.
Ions that appear unchanged on both sides are spectator ions; cancelling them produces the ionic equation for the actual chemical change.
Revise: Compounds and Chemical Equations
Revise: Reactivity Trends and Displacement Reactions
An ion that is present in the reaction mixture but remains unchanged during the reaction.
Revise: Redox and Electrons

1 more note

An ion that is present during a reaction but remains chemically unchanged.
Revise: Acids and Metals

AQA Chemistry past papers

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

Specification 0.4, 3.14, 3.25, 3.28, 4.2 · Paper 1, Paper 2

An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and appears in the same form on both sides of the full ionic equation.
An ionic equation focuses on the chemical change by leaving out the unchanged spectator ions. It must conserve every type of atom and also conserve electrical charge. It may contain ions alongside solids, liquids, gases or molecules; it is not necessarily an equation made entirely from ions.
Revise: Ionic Equations
An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and is therefore omitted from the ionic equation.
Revise: Ionic Neutralisation
An ion that remains in the electrolyte rather than being discharged at an electrode.
Revise: Products of Electrolysis

2 more notes

An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and does not take part in the electron transfer.
Revise: Oxidation and Reduction (Electrons)
An ion that is present but remains unchanged during a reaction.
Revise: Displacement as Redox

Edexcel Chemistry past papers

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

Specification C3.1e, C3.3e, C3.4d, PAG 1 · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

An ion present during a reaction that remains unchanged and therefore does not appear in the final ionic equation.
An ionic equation leaves out these unchanged spectator ions so that the change is easier to see. It must still obey conservation of atoms and charge.
Revise: Ionic Equations
An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and appears on both sides of its full ionic equation.
Revise: Ionic Neutralisation
An ion that remains unchanged and does not appear in the overall ionic equation.
Revise: Electrode Reactions

1 more note

A dissolved ion that remains chemically unchanged during a reaction and is omitted from the ionic equation.
Revise: Reactivity Trend Practical

OCR Chemistry A past papers

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

An ion present during a reaction that remains unchanged and therefore does not appear in the final ionic equation.
Sulfate ions, SO₄²⁻, appear unchanged on both sides, so they are spectator ions.
Revise: Equations for reactions

OCR Chemistry B past papers

Exam tips

1
Only cancel a spectator ion if the identical species, including its charge, appears on both sides of the equation.
2
Do not describe chloride or sulfate ions as oxidised or reduced: they are spectator ions in these reactions.
3
In an ionic equation, leave out potassium or sodium ions because they are spectator ions.

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Specification 4.1.1.1, 4.1.2.6, 4.4.1.4, 4.4.2.1 · Paper 1

An ion present in a reaction mixture that remains unchanged and is omitted from the ionic equation.
Ions that appear unchanged on both sides are spectator ions; cancelling them produces the ionic equation for the actual chemical change.
Revise: Compounds and Chemical Equations
Revise: Reactivity Trends and Displacement Reactions
An ion that is present in the reaction mixture but remains unchanged during the reaction.
Revise: Redox and Electrons

1 more note

An ion that is present during a reaction but remains chemically unchanged.
Revise: Acids and Metals

AQA Chemistry past papers

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

Specification 0.4, 3.14, 3.25, 3.28, 4.2 · Paper 1, Paper 2

An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and appears in the same form on both sides of the full ionic equation.
An ionic equation focuses on the chemical change by leaving out the unchanged spectator ions. It must conserve every type of atom and also conserve electrical charge. It may contain ions alongside solids, liquids, gases or molecules; it is not necessarily an equation made entirely from ions.
Revise: Ionic Equations
An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and is therefore omitted from the ionic equation.
Revise: Ionic Neutralisation
An ion that remains in the electrolyte rather than being discharged at an electrode.
Revise: Products of Electrolysis

2 more notes

An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and does not take part in the electron transfer.
Revise: Oxidation and Reduction (Electrons)
An ion that is present but remains unchanged during a reaction.
Revise: Displacement as Redox

Edexcel Chemistry past papers

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

Specification C3.1e, C3.3e, C3.4d, PAG 1 · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

An ion present during a reaction that remains unchanged and therefore does not appear in the final ionic equation.
An ionic equation leaves out these unchanged spectator ions so that the change is easier to see. It must still obey conservation of atoms and charge.
Revise: Ionic Equations
An ion that remains unchanged during a reaction and appears on both sides of its full ionic equation.
Revise: Ionic Neutralisation
An ion that remains unchanged and does not appear in the overall ionic equation.
Revise: Electrode Reactions

1 more note

A dissolved ion that remains chemically unchanged during a reaction and is omitted from the ionic equation.
Revise: Reactivity Trend Practical

OCR Chemistry A past papers

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

An ion present during a reaction that remains unchanged and therefore does not appear in the final ionic equation.
Sulfate ions, SO₄²⁻, appear unchanged on both sides, so they are spectator ions.
Revise: Equations for reactions

OCR Chemistry B past papers

Exam tips

1
Only cancel a spectator ion if the identical species, including its charge, appears on both sides of the equation.
2
Do not describe chloride or sulfate ions as oxidised or reduced: they are spectator ions in these reactions.
3
In an ionic equation, leave out potassium or sodium ions because they are spectator ions.

Spectator ion

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Exam tips

Revise Chemistry with GradeGen

Spectator ion

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Exam tips

Revise Chemistry with GradeGen

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Exam tips

Related key terms

Revise Chemistry with GradeGen

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Chemistry · 8462

Edexcel GCSE Chemistry · 1CH0

OCR GCSE Chemistry A · J248

OCR GCSE Chemistry B · J258

Exam tips

Related key terms

Revise Chemistry with GradeGen