How do we know what the products of a reaction will be?

[pacer]

Cu + HNO3

Question = what is the gas evolved?

I though it would be

Cu + HNO3 -> Cu(NO3)2 + H2

but the answer is NO(g).

What is wrong with the equation I have written out and how are they getting NO(g)?

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[Teleologist]

What is wrong with the equation I have written out and how are they getting NO(g)?

Your equation just doesn't fit the facts.

Without further information this question would be difficult to answer. However, one should know that nitrogen is a good oxidizing agent (many pathways; many oxidation states). So your equation has nitrogen staying in the +5 oxidation state. No good.

 

[pacer]

I see what you mean by the oxidation states.

I am still a little confused on how the equation would look like. Doesn't seem intuitive to me for some reason.

Cu + HNO3 -> NO + CuO + H2O ?????