Spectator ion

What is Spectator ion?

An ion that is present in the solution before and after a reaction in exactly the same form, taking no part in the change. Spectator ions are cancelled from both sides of a full ionic equation to leave the net ionic equation.

This definition is part of the Acids, Bases and Salts chapter in Cambridge O Level Chemistry.

Concepts related to Spectator ion

• Ionic equation
• charge balance
• Neutralisation