Question

Write its balanced chemical equation.

Hint:

In redox reactions, the substance being oxidized loses electrons, and the substance being reduced gains electrons. In this case, copper is oxidized, and nitrogen in nitric acid is reduced.

Answer 1

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between solid copper and concentrated nitric acid is as follows: \[ \text{Cu(s)} + 4\text{HNO}_3\text{(conc)} \rightarrow \text{Cu(NO}_3\text{)}_2\text{(aq)} + 2\text{NO}_2\text{(g)} + 2\text{H}_2\text{O(l)} \] In this equation:
Cu(s) represents solid copper.
HNO$_3$(conc) is concentrated nitric acid.
Cu(NO$_3$)$_2$(aq) is the aqueous coppernitrate formed.
NO$_2$(g) is the nitrogen dioxide gas released.
H$_2$O(l) is water produced as a byproduct.
The coefficients are balanced to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the reaction.