4 Cu (s) + 10 HNO3 (aq) → N2O (g) + 4 Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + 5 H2O (l)
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
4 Cu0 - 8 e- → 4 CuII (oxidation)
2 NV + 8 e- → 2 NI (reduction)
Cu is a reducing agent, HNO3 is an oxidizing agent.
Reactants:
- Cu
- HNO3 – Nitric acid
- Other names: Aqua fortis , Spirit of niter , Eau forte
- Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid ; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour ; Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution. Fuming nitric acid is concentrated nitric acid that contains dissolved nitrogen dioxide.]
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