I'm trying to understand breaking down molecules into their constituent Ions for precipitation reactions, and sometimes I can't tell if it's supposed to be broken up or not.
Example Equation
HC2H3O2(aq) + KOH(aq) -> H2O(l) + KC2H3O2(aq)
In the book it's compete ionic equation is
HC2H3O2(aq) + K+(aq) +OH(-(aq) ->> H2O(l) + K+(aq) + C2H3O2-(aq)
Perhaps I'm failing to recognize what is strictly a molecular compound, but why can't HC2H3O2(aq) be broken up? Are molecules with hydrogen always a molecular compound with covalent bonds? I was assuming otherwise since it carries a positive charge, "lending" an electron instead of "sharing" electrons as the definition of molecular compound.