Water needs to be present. The 2 compounds will only react after they have been dissolved and ionized in water: 2 Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3 Na2CO3(aq) => Al2(CO3)3(s) + 6 NaNO3(aq) Solution Water needs to be present. The 2 compounds will only react after they have been dissolved and ionized in water: 2 Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3 Na2CO3(aq) => Al2(CO3)3(s) + 6 NaNO3(aq).