3 Cu (s) + 8 HNO3 (aq) → 3 Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + 4 H2O (l) + 2 NO (g)
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
3 Cu0 - 6 e- → 3 CuII (oxidation)
2 NV + 6 e- → 2 NII (reduction)
Cu is a reducing agent, HNO3 is an oxidizing agent.
Reactants:
- Cu
- Names: Copper
, Copper (dusts and mists, as Cu) 
, Cu - Appearance: Solid in various forms. turns green on exposure to moist air ; Reddish, lustrous, malleable, odorless solid.
- Names: Copper
- 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.]
- Other names: Aqua fortis
Products:
- Cu(NO3)2 – Copper(II) nitrate
- Other names: Cupric nitrate , Nitrato de cobre (II) , Нитрат меди (II) (безводный)
- Appearance: Blue crystals | hygroscopic
- Other names: Cupric nitrate
- H2O – Water, oxidane
- Other names: Water (H2O) , Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) , Hydrogen oxide
- Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas
- Other names: Water (H2O)
- NO – Nitrogen monoxide , Oxidonitrogen(•) (additive)
- Other names: Nitric oxide , Nitrogen(II) oxide , Nitric oxide (radical)
- Appearance: Colourless gas ; Colourless compressed gas ; Colorless gas. [Note: Shipped as a nonliquefied compressed gas.]
- Other names: Nitric oxide