When a piece of copper foil is dropped into a test tube containing concentrated nitric acid, a reaction occurs. Initially, the copper foil will appear shiny and reddish-brown in color. As the reaction progresses, the color of the copper foil will start to change. It will turn black as a brown gas, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), is evolved. Meanwhile, the test tube will heat up due to the exothermic nature of the reaction.
The reaction can be explained by the following equation:
Cu + 4HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
Reaction of copper with acids.
1 Drop a piece of copper foil into a test tube containing concentrated nitric acid. Describe what will happens/ observed?
Write equation to explain the reaction.
1 answer
1 answer