Cu + 2 KNO3 + 2 H2SO4 CuSO4 + K2SO4 + 2 NO2 + 2 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

Cu0 - 2 e- CuII (oxidation)

2 NV + 2 e- 2 NIV (reduction)

Cu is a reducing agent, KNO3 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • Cu
    • Names: Copper source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Copper (dusts and mists, as Cu) source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cu source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Solid in various forms. turns green on exposure to moist air source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Reddish, lustrous, malleable, odorless solid. source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • KNO3Potassium nitrate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Other names: Saltpeter source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Saltpetre source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Nitrate of potash source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless-to-white crystalline powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2SO4Sulfuric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Oil of vitriol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfuric acid, concentrated (> 51% and < 100%) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, H2SO4 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Odourless colourless oily hygroscopic liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • CuSO4Copper(II) sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cupric sulphate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Blue vitriol (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Bluestone (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Gray-white (anhydrous) | blue (pentahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • K2SO4
    • Names: Potassium sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Potassium sulphate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Dipotassium sulfate source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: White solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless-to-white crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • NO2Nitrogen dioxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Nitrogen(IV) oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Deutoxide of nitrogen source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Nitrogen peroxide source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Brown gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Reddish-brown gas or brown or yellow liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Yellowish-brown liquid or reddish-brown gas (above 70°F) with a pungent, acrid odor. [Note: In solid form (below 15°F) it is found structurally as N2O4.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • H2OWater, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27