Hey, can you help me balance this equation?
Cu2S + HNO3 --> Cu(NO3)2 + CuSO4 + NO2 +H2O
Thanks!
As written, the coefficients are as follows:
1, 12, 1, 1, 10, 6
I haven't check it. You check it.
Sure! To balance this chemical equation, you need to ensure that the same number of each type of atom appears on both sides of the equation. Here are the steps to balance this equation:
1. Start by counting the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation:
- Cu: 2 on the left, 3 on the right
- S: 1 on the left, 1 on the right
- H: 1 on the left, 2 on the right
- N: 1 on the left, 2 on the right
- O: 3 on the left, 11 on the right
2. Balance the elements that appear in the least number first. In this case, we begin with Cu:
- Place a coefficient of 3 in front of Cu(NO3)2 to balance the Cu atoms on the right side.
- Now we have: Cu2S + HNO3 -> 3Cu(NO3)2 + CuSO4 + NO2 + H2O
3. Next, balance the Sulfur (S) atoms:
- Place a coefficient of 3 in front of CuSO4 to balance the S atoms on the right side.
- Now we have: Cu2S + HNO3 -> 3Cu(NO3)2 + 3CuSO4 + NO2 + H2O
4. Continue by balancing the Hydrogen (H) atoms:
- Place a coefficient of 6 in front of HNO3 and H2O to balance the H atoms on both sides of the equation.
- Now we have: Cu2S + 6HNO3 -> 3Cu(NO3)2 + 3CuSO4 + NO2 + 3H2O
5. Finally, balance the Oxygen (O) atoms:
- Place a coefficient of 8 in front of NO2 to balance the O atoms on the right side.
- Now we have the balanced equation: Cu2S + 6HNO3 -> 3Cu(NO3)2 + 3CuSO4 + 8NO2 + 3H2O
This is the balanced equation:
Cu2S + 6HNO3 -> 3Cu(NO3)2 + 3CuSO4 + 8NO2 + 3H2O
Hope this helps!