How do you balance $NO_2 + H_2O → HNO_3 + NO$ ?

Question

2053 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-11-25T13:38:13

$3NO_2+H_2O -> 2HNO_3+NO$

Given:

$NO_2 + H_2O -> HNO_3 + NO$

We are looking for something like:

$aNO_2 + bH_2O -> cHNO_3 + d NO$

for some integers $a, b, c, d$ .

Equating the amounts of $N$ , $O$ and $H$ , we find:

${ (a = c + d), (2a+b = 3c+d), (2b = c) :}$

Subtracting the first equation from the second to eliminate $d$ , we find:

$a+b = 2c$

Then subtracting twice the third equation, we find:

$a-3b = 0$

So let's put $b=1$ , $a=3$ , $c=2$ and $d=1$ to find:

$3NO_2+H_2O -> 2HNO_3+NO$

How do you balance NO_2 + H_2O → HNO_3 + NONO_2 + H_2O → HNO_3 + NO?