CuSO4(aq) + 4NH3(aq) → [Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq)

I know that adding nitric acid will reverse the reaction. But what is the actual chemical equation?

[Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq) + HNO3(aq) --> ???

The HNO3 reacts with NH3.

HNO3 + NH3 ==> NH4NO3. This results in taking away the NH3 so the complex Cu(NH3)4^+2 can't form.

The reaction you described occurs when nitric acid (HNO3) is added to [Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq). The product of this reaction can be determined by looking at the reactants and their respective charges.

Since [Cu(NH3)4]SO4 (aq) is a complex ion, it usually remains intact during reactions with acids. Therefore, the sulfuric acid portion of [Cu(NH3)4]SO4 (aq) is not affected by the addition of HNO3.

So, the reaction between [Cu(NH3)4]SO4 (aq) and HNO3 (aq) can be represented as:

[Cu(NH3)4]SO4 (aq) + HNO3 (aq) → [Cu(NH3)4]SO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

Please note that the addition of HNO3 does not actually reverse the reaction, but instead leads to the formation of water as a byproduct.

To determine the actual chemical equation when nitric acid (HNO3) is added to [Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq), we need to consider the reaction between the copper complex and the nitric acid.

Nitric acid is a strong acid that dissociates in water to release H+ ions. The copper complex [Cu(NH3)4]2+ contains a positively charged copper ion (Cu2+) coordinated with four ammonia molecules (NH3). When nitric acid is added, it will provide H+ ions that can potentially react with the complex.

The copper complex is amphoteric, which means it can act as both a Lewis acid (accepts electron pairs) and a Lewis base (donates electron pairs). When reacting with nitric acid (HNO3), the complex can donate a lone electron pair from one of the ammonia molecules (NH3) to the H+ ion from the nitric acid.

The overall reaction between [Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq) and HNO3(aq) can be represented as follows:

[Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq) + HNO3(aq) → [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)]SO4(aq) + H2O(l)

In this reaction, one of the ammonia molecules from the copper complex is replaced by a water molecule (H2O) from the nitric acid. This results in the formation of a new copper complex [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)]2+.

It is important to note that the sulfate ion (SO4) from the original copper complex remains unchanged in this reaction.

Therefore, the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between [Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq) and HNO3(aq) is:

[Cu(NH3)4]SO4(aq) + HNO3(aq) → [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)]SO4(aq) + H2O(l)