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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: gsalinas_44 on November 01, 2006, 10:17:51 PM

Title: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: gsalinas_44 on November 01, 2006, 10:17:51 PM
my equation is

Zn + HNO3 --- Zn(NO3)2 + NH4NO3 + H2O

PLEASE I NEED HELP WITH THIS ONE TODAY (NOW PLEASE)
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: enahs on November 01, 2006, 11:13:20 PM
I believe that equation should actually be:
Zn + HNO3 ---> Zn(NO3)3 + H2

Also, read the forum rules. People are to help, not do it for you. Lets see if after getting the correct equation you can then balance it.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: Yggdrasil on November 01, 2006, 11:16:15 PM
Zn + HNO3 ---> Zn(NO3)2 + H2

Is the unbalanced reaction since Zn ions can only have a 2+ charge.  This one should be much easier to balance, too.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: enahs on November 01, 2006, 11:51:33 PM
Darn you! You where supposed to wait as I noticed by typo before you responded! And I can not emphasis enough that it was just a typo! I feel so robbed!
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: gsalinas_44 on November 01, 2006, 11:54:36 PM
sorry i did that but i have been trying to balance this for a while now but i just cant find the correct multipliers.  i realy need help now not only to find the answer but to be at rest with my self.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: Yggdrasil on November 02, 2006, 12:12:46 AM
With a chemical reaction like this, the first step I would take is to try to balance any metals on both sides of the equation first (i.e. make sure there are the same amount of Zn atoms on both sides of the reaction).  Next, I would try balancing any polyatomic ions (NO3-, PO43-, NH4+, etc.), then worry about trying to balance the other components.

Try doing this to see if it helps.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: gsalinas_44 on November 02, 2006, 12:49:42 AM
finally got it!!!!

8 Zn + 20 HNO3 ---> 8 Zn(NO3)2 + 2 NH4NO3 + 6 H2O
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: mike on November 02, 2006, 12:56:36 AM
I don't think this is the right reaction. See Ygg's post above.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: Borek on November 02, 2006, 02:56:45 AM
Quote from: gsalinas_44 on November 02, 2006, 12:49:42 AM
8 Zn + 20 HNO3 ---> 8 Zn(NO3)2 + 2 NH4NO3 + 6 H2O

What if you divide all by 2? ;)

All: whether the reaction proceeds or not is different thing, I suppose gsalinas was asked to balance it for given reactants/products. Besides, it is not that impossible, as hydrogen in statu nascendi is very strong reducting agent, thus it may happen that it will reduce NO3- to NH3.
Title: Re: need help with balancing an equation
Post by: AWK on November 02, 2006, 03:10:51 AM
Quote from: Yggdrasil on November 01, 2006, 11:16:15 PM
Zn + HNO3 ---> Zn(NO3)2 + H2

Is the unbalanced reaction since Zn ions can only have a 2+ charge.  This one should be much easier to balance, too.
Horrible!
In this reaction, in fact, hydrogen in statu nascendi can be formed. But its reducing power is great, hence it reduces HNO3 to ammonia