Nitric Acid added to mixture

In summary: Did you also add water after adding the Nitric Acid, to make the mixture turn blue?No, I just observed the reaction.
  • #1
Revengeance
22
0

Homework Statement


Difference between nitric acid added to the mixture Copper Oxide + Carbon
and nitric acid added to the mixture Copper + Carbon Dioxide

2. Homework Equations

meteal oxide + carbon ---> metal + carbon dioxide

The Attempt at a Solution


When I added Nitric Acid to the mixture Copper Oxide + Carbon no reaction had occured, when i then added it to copper + Carbon Dioxide (after a reducation reaction) a brown gas had formed, is the reason behind the formation of brown gas due to nitric acid reacting with copper? Or am i completely wrong.
 
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  • #3
Revengeance said:
When I added Nitric Acid to the mixture Copper Oxide + Carbon no reaction had occured

Are you sure there were no reaction?
 
  • #4
Borek said:
Are you sure there were no reaction?
Yeah I added a few drops and saw nothing
 
  • #5
Is your Nitric Acid of the Dilute or Concentrated variety?

You may have to heat the mixture slightly, I hope you are using a Fume hood for proper ventilation.
 
  • #6
Wee-Lamm said:
Is your Nitric Acid of the Dilute or Concentrated variety?

You may have to heat the mixture slightly, I hope you are using a Fume hood for proper ventilation.
it is concentrated
 
  • #8
Revengeance said:
Yeah I added a few drops and saw nothing

"Saw nothing" and "there were no reaction" are two different things. In some reactions there are obvious signs that something is going on (evolving gas), in some the effect is much more subtle.
 
  • #9
Borek said:
"Saw nothing" and "there were no reaction" are two different things. In some reactions there are obvious
signs that something is going on (evolving gas), in some the effect is much more subtle.

Yeah thanks that is a key part in my observations

One more question, it was confirmed by my teacher that after the heating of the mixture (copper oxide + carbon) , there was copper + carbon dioxide, i have a question that asks to to write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction which took place when the concentrated nitric acid was added to the solid mixture after heating, would this be nitric acid + copper ?

Or something else, because nitric acid + copper + carbon dioxide doesn't really make sense to me.
 
  • #10
I am not sure I follow you, but there two reactions here - one is between copper (or copper oxide, depending on the sample) and the nitric acid, the other between carbon and the nitric acid.
 
  • #11
A balanced equation will account for every atom that was present before the reaction, and every atom that was present after the reaction. This ensures that our equation doesn't allow any atoms to magically appear or disappear during the reaction. This will resemble the 2nd criteria in the problem description, in your opening post. meteal oxide + carbon ---> metal + carbon dioxide

2 examples could be;

OH -> H+O
CuCO3 -> CuO +CO2 I'll let you figure out what happened to the Nitric Acid you added to the mixture but Borek's last post is a good hint.
 
  • #12
Wee-Lamm said:
A balanced equation will account for every atom that was present before the reaction, and every atom that was present after the reaction. This ensures that our equation doesn't allow any atoms to magically appear or disappear during the reaction. This will resemble the 2nd criteria in the problem description, in your opening post. meteal oxide + carbon ---> metal + carbon dioxide

2 examples could be;

OH -> H+O
CuCO3 -> CuO +CO2 I'll let you figure out what happened to the Nitric Acid you added to the mixture but Borek's last post is a good hint.

Ok but the question says when concentrated nitric acid was added to the solid mixture after heating

So wouldn't it just be copper + nitric acid?
 
  • #13
Revengeance said:
Ok but the question says when concentrated nitric acid was added to the solid mixture after heating

So wouldn't it just be copper + nitric acid?

What happened to the CO2?
 
  • #14
Wee-Lamm said:
What happened to the CO2?
Oh, so the heated mixture is copper + CO2?

But if it was like that how would nitric acid be added.
 
  • #15
Revengeance said:
Yeah thanks that is a key part in my observations

One more question, it was confirmed by my teacher that after the heating of the mixture (copper oxide + carbon) , there was copper + carbon dioxide, i have a question that asks to to write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction which took place when the concentrated nitric acid was added to the solid mixture after heating, would this be nitric acid + copper ?
Or something else, because nitric acid + copper + carbon dioxide doesn't really make sense to me.

Nitric Acid = NCO3

Did you also add water after adding the Nitric Acid, to make the mixture turn blue?
 

1. What is Nitric Acid and why is it added to mixtures?

Nitric Acid is a strong, corrosive mineral acid commonly used in the production of fertilizers, explosives, and dyes. It is added to mixtures to provide acidic conditions, oxidize other substances, and produce nitrogen compounds.

2. What are the potential hazards of using Nitric Acid in mixtures?

Nitric Acid is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with skin. It can also release toxic fumes when heated or mixed with certain substances. Therefore, proper safety precautions should be taken when handling Nitric Acid.

3. What types of mixtures typically require the addition of Nitric Acid?

Nitric Acid is commonly added to mixtures in industries such as agriculture, explosives production, and chemical manufacturing. It is also used in laboratory settings for various experiments and reactions.

4. How does Nitric Acid affect the properties of a mixture?

The addition of Nitric Acid can change the pH of a mixture, making it more acidic. It can also act as an oxidizing agent, converting other substances into different compounds. In some cases, it can also enhance the solubility of certain substances in the mixture.

5. Are there any alternatives to using Nitric Acid in mixtures?

Yes, there are other acids that can be used in place of Nitric Acid, such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. However, the specific properties and effects of these acids may differ, so it is important to carefully consider the desired outcome when choosing an alternative.

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