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Topic: Are these half reactions correct?  (Read 2992 times)

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Offline Lourdes

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Are these half reactions correct?
« on: May 16, 2017, 05:04:47 AM »
Hi!
I have another redox equation here:

Hg + HNO3 + H2SO4 → NO + Hg+ + H2O + SO42-

Did I identify the following as the correct half reactions:
Ox.: Hg → Hg+
Red.: HNO3 → NO

Now I did not balance out O-atoms or charges yet, just wanted to make sure if these are OK.
Thank you!

Offline Hunter2

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2017, 05:17:00 AM »
Mercury will go to Hg2+.

Offline Lourdes

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2017, 06:55:57 AM »
Oh but it says Hg+ on the product side, what am I missing?

Offline Hunter2

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2017, 07:03:50 AM »
If you google mercury-I-nitrate or -sulfate you will find that it only will be obtained in very diluted acidic solution under hydrogen development. If the nitric is more concentrated it will get Mercury-II-nitrate or sulfate, if sulfuric is also present.

Offline Arkcon

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2017, 07:40:18 AM »
Hg+ is a special case, it usually appears as Hg22+.  So you shouldn't use it as you have, unless the problem is just written that way by the instructor.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2017, 09:20:59 PM by Arkcon »
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline Lourdes

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2017, 08:03:08 AM »
Thank you very much guys! But as you said the problem was given by the instructor in this way, so I am going to continue with Hg+. But apart from that, is the reduction OK?

Offline Hunter2

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2017, 08:06:06 AM »
Reduction is ok.

Offline Lourdes

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Re: Are these half reactions correct?
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2017, 08:57:50 AM »
Thank you very much Hunter2!

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