Calcium + Calcium Nitrate → ?

Hollysmoke

hey, I've got a question. How do I write out the word equation Calcium + Calcium Nitate → ?. I haven't done one like this with the same metal before. Since they are on the equal level of the activity series, what happens? When I did the lab, there was a reaction so...I'm confused o-O

chem_tr

Hello, if there is to be a reaction, I suppose it should be a redox. There are two redox-active elements; first, elemental calcium, and second, nitrate nitrogen. Elemental calcium wants to go 2+ oxidation state, and therefore, gives electrons to nitrogen. Nitrogen is thus reduced to its low oxidation states, say, 2+.

If the medium is aqueous, or protic, forget these and write Ca(OH)₂, since calcium reacts with water to give this chemical. This is also an oxidation. Calcium nitrate can be hydrolyzed to give nitric acid, which can react with this hydroxide.

GCT

You need to distinguish calcium metal [itex]Ca_{(s)}[/itex] from its cationic form. I believe Chemtr is right in saying that solid calcium hydroxide is one of the products. however, note one common method of making calcium nitrate

[itex]HNO_3_{(aq)} + Ca(OH)_2_{(aq)} {\xrightarrow} H2O_{(l)} + Ca(NO_3)_2_{(aq)} [/itex]

as one can guess this reaction goes to completion, and note that each product chem tr suggested in on the right. The reverse does not occur significantly. One can guess that since nitric acid is known to be a strong acid, that its conjugate, being a weak base, would not react appreciably with water.

I don't believe that calcium hydroxide can be formed by simply dissolving calcium nitrate in water. And thus the point of dissolving calcium metal. You should recall the reaction where a metal dissolved in water will produce hydrogen gas and its corresponding basic oxide in this case [itex]CaO_{(s)}[/itex] which will react with water to form calcium hydroxide.