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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: hunter457 on November 08, 2009, 01:01:07 PM

Title: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: hunter457 on November 08, 2009, 01:01:07 PM

Starting with equal moles of each solute, predict the direction in which the following reaction will proceed.

HNO₂(aq) + NO₃^-(aq)  <--> HNO₃(aq) + NO₂^-(aq)

I'm not really sure how to go about answering this one.

Title: Re: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: Borek on November 08, 2009, 02:51:25 PM

Which acid is stronger?

Title: Re: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: hunter457 on November 08, 2009, 08:27:57 PM

The HNO₃ (nitric acid) is stronger than the HNO₂. What does that mean though? What does that tell me?

Title: Re: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: hunter457 on November 08, 2009, 10:00:15 PM

Actually, I figured it out. The reaction proceeds to the left because HNO₃ is stronger than HNO₂.

Title: Re: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: Borek on November 09, 2009, 03:14:23 AM

Correct :)

Title: Re: Predicting the Direction of an Acid-base Reaction
Post by: hunter457 on November 09, 2009, 10:05:07 AM

Thanks.