4 Cu2O + 18 HNO3 → N2O + 8 Cu(NO3)2 + 9 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

8 CuI - 8 e- → 8 CuII (oxidation)

2 NV + 8 e- → 2 NI (reduction)

Cu2O is a reducing agent, HNO3 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • Cu2O – Copper(I) oxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cuprous oxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04, Dicopper oxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04, Cuprite source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Brownish-red solid source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27; Yellow, red or brown crystalline powder source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04
  • HNO3 – Nitric acid source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Aqua fortis source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02, Spirit of niter source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02, Eau forte source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04; 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.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • N2O – Dinitrogen monoxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Nitrous oxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02, Laughing gas source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02, Sweet air source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Colourless gas source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27; Colourless compressed liquefied gas with characteristic odour source: ICSC, accessed on: 2019-09-04; Colorless gas with a slightly sweet odor. [inhalation anesthetic] [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed on: 2019-09-02
  • Cu(NO3)2 – Copper(II) nitrate source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cupric nitrate source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27, Nitrato de cobre (II) source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02, Нитрат меди (II) (безводный) source: wikidata, accessed on: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Blue crystals | hygroscopic source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
  • H2O – Water, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed on: 2019-09-27