Magnesium can react with aqueous nitric acid, HNO3, to form hydrogen gas and magnesium nitrate. Write down the balanced chemical equation for this reaction, remembering to use the state symbols.
Mg + 2 HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Damon's equation is correct but the state symbols are not included in his answer.
Mg is(s)
HNO3 is (aq)
H2 is (g)
Mg(NO3)2 (aq)
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and aqueous nitric acid is as follows:
Mg(s) + 2HNO3(aq) → Mg(NO3)2(aq) + H2(g)
To write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and aqueous nitric acid, we need to identify the formulas of the reactants and products and balance the number of atoms on each side of the equation.
Reactants:
Magnesium (Mg)
Aqueous nitric acid (HNO3)
Products:
Hydrogen gas (H2)
Magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2)
First, let's write down the unbalanced equation:
Mg + HNO3 → H2 + Mg(NO3)2
To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Let's balance the equation step by step:
1. Balance the magnesium (Mg) atoms:
Mg + HNO3 → H2 + Mg(NO3)2
2. Balance the hydrogen (H) atoms:
Mg + 2HNO3 → H2 + Mg(NO3)2
3. Balance the nitrogen (N) atoms:
Mg + 2HNO3 → H2 + Mg(NO3)2
4. Balance the oxygen (O) atoms:
Mg + 2HNO3 → H2 + Mg(NO3)2
Since there are two nitrate (NO3) ions on the right side of the equation, we multiply Mg(NO3)2 by 2:
Mg + 2HNO3 → H2 + 2Mg(NO3)2
Now, let's add the state symbols:
Mg(s) + 2HNO3(aq) → H2(g) + 2Mg(NO3)2(aq)
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and aqueous nitric acid is:
Mg(s) + 2HNO3(aq) → H2(g) + 2Mg(NO3)2(aq)