The discussion revolves around the occurrence of specific chemical reactions, focusing on whether they will take place or not. Participants analyze three different reactions involving sodium, nickel, copper, zinc, and magnesium nitrate, with considerations of chemical principles and reaction conditions.
Participants generally disagree on the occurrence of the reactions, with multiple competing views presented regarding the first two reactions and a consensus that the third reaction does not occur, although the reasoning is contested.
Participants express uncertainty regarding the conditions under which the reactions are considered, particularly the state of HNO3 and the definitions of oxidation states. There are also unresolved questions about balancing charges and atoms in the proposed reactions.
Students studying chemistry, particularly those interested in reaction mechanisms, balancing chemical equations, and the principles governing metal reactivity with salts and acids.
If Na does react with HNO3 (the question does not state if it's aqueous or anhydrous HNO3), this will not be the correct reaction. What happens when most metals react with an acid? Hint: Something is evolved.carla said:State "does not occur" if the reaction will not take place.
please let me know if i am right
a) Na + HNO3 ---> NaOH + NO2
This question too is ambiguous. Elemental Nickel has zero oxidation state (by definition, this is true for all elements), so one must only assume this is Ni2+ in aqueous solution. In that case, your equation clearly does not balance charge, nor does it balance the number of Cu atoms. But more importantly, you need to determine if the reaction will occur at all.b) Ni(II) + Cu2O --> Cu + NiO
This is correct, but do you know why?c) Zn + Mg(NO3)2 --> does not occur
Actually, a metal will react with a salt solution in many cases. For instance, what happens if you drop some Zinc pellets in a solution of CUSO4 (this reaction is the basis of the Galvanic cell)?carla said:reaction number 3 will not occur because magnesium nitrate is a salt and zinc is a metal and a metal and a salt cannot react