what is the balanced equation for Mg+HNO3==>Mg(NO3)2+H2
Mg + 2HNO3 = Mg(NO3)2 + H2
To determine the balanced equation for the reaction between magnesium (Mg) and nitric acid (HNO3) to form magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) and hydrogen gas (H2), you need to follow a few steps:
Step 1: Write down the chemical formulas of the reactants and products.
Mg + HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Step 2: Balance the atoms by adjusting the coefficients in front of the compound or element to ensure that there are the same number of atoms on both sides of the equation.
The equation is already partially balanced since there is one magnesium (Mg) atom on both sides. Now we need to balance the nitric acid and nitrate ions, as well as the hydrogen atoms.
Step 3: Let's start by balancing hydrogen (H) atoms. There are two hydrogen atoms in nitric acid and two hydrogen atoms in water (H2). We can achieve this by placing a coefficient of 3 in front of HNO3.
Mg + 3HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Now, the hydrogen atoms are balanced.
Step 4: Next, we balance nitric acid (HNO3). On the left side, we have three HNO3 molecules, which results in three nitrate ions (NO3-) on the right side. To balance the nitrate ions, we need a coefficient of 2 in front of Mg(NO3)2.
Mg + 3HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Now, the nitrate ions are balanced.
The final balanced equation is:
Mg + 3HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Therefore, the balanced equation for the reaction between magnesium and nitric acid to form magnesium nitrate and hydrogen gas is Mg + 3HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2.