This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
NV + 8 e- → N-III (reduction)
4 O-II - 8 e- → 4 O0 (oxidation)
Word equation
nitric acid + water → ammonia + oxygen
Input interpretation
HNO3 + H2O → NH3 + O2
Nitric acid water ammonia oxygen
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically:
HNO3 + H2O → NH3 + O2
Add stoichiometric coefficients, c1, to the reactants and products:
c1 HNO3 + c2H2O → c3 NH3 + c4O2
Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for H, N and O:
H: c1 + 2c2 = 3c3
N: c1 = c3
O: 3c1+ c2 = 2c4
Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:
c1=1
c2=1
c3 = 1
c4=2
Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation:
Answer:
HNO3 + H2O → NH3 + O2
