Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: appelsinbla on June 27, 2012, 06:42:00 AM

Title: revised: products of reaction between Zn and HNO3
Post by: appelsinbla on June 27, 2012, 06:42:00 AM
In a chemical reaction between Dilute HNO3 and Zn, one of the product is NH4NO3 (Ammonium Nitrate). Just want to know why Ammonium Nitrate is formed and NOT NO (Nitric Oxide) or NO2 (Nitrogen Per Oxide) is formed? Thanks.
Title: Re: revised: products of reaction between Zn and HNO3
Post by: discodermolide on June 27, 2012, 11:08:01 AM
Quote from: appelsinbla on June 27, 2012, 06:42:00 AM
In a chemical reaction between Dilute HNO3 and Zn, one of the product is NH4NO3 (Ammonium Nitrate). Just want to know why Ammonium Nitrate is formed and NOT NO (Nitric Oxide) or NO2 (Nitrogen Per Oxide) is formed? Thanks.

Why don't you write out a balanced equation for this reaction.
Zn is a reducing agent
NO2 is not nitrogen per oxide but dioxide.
Title: Re: revised: products of reaction between Zn and HNO3
Post by: appelsinbla on June 27, 2012, 01:19:16 PM
In  my previous post, I mistakenly put the subject in caps and I feel sorry for it. As suggested in a reply i received, I am writing balanced chemical equations as: (i): 4Zn+10HNO3 :rarrow:4Zn(NO3)2+3H2O+NH4NO3, while in another equation:3Cu+8HNO3 :rarrow:3Cu(NO3)2+4H2O+2NO.
Just want to know that why in equation (i) NH4NO3 is formed and not NO.
Thanks!
Title: Re: revised: products of reaction between Zn and HNO3
Post by: discodermolide on June 27, 2012, 01:26:02 PM
Quote from: appelsinbla on June 27, 2012, 01:19:16 PM
In  my previous post, I mistakenly put the subject in caps and I feel sorry for it. As suggested in a reply i received, I am writing balanced chemical equations as: (i): 4Zn+10HNO3 :rarrow:4Zn(NO3)2+3H2O+NH4NO3, while in another equation:3Cu+8HNO3 :rarrow:3Cu(NO3)2+4H2O+2NO.
Just want to know that why in equation (i) NH4NO3 is formed and not NO.
Thanks!

What is the difference between Cu and Zn? Which is the stronger reductant?
Title: Re: revised: products of reaction between Zn and HNO3
Post by: Hunter2 on June 29, 2012, 08:22:25 AM
It is a matter of reduction potential and also concentration

Cu and nitric can create NO and also NO2, depending of the concentration of the nitric.

The same with Zinc. Additionally Zinc is able to reduce to  ammonia which get then the ammonia nitrate.

By using of NaOH and Nitrate instead of nitric acid  ammonia can be optained.