Question

How do we represent the oxidation of `"bismuth metal"` by the action of `"nitric acid"` to give `"bismuth nitrate"`, and `NO(g)`?

Answer 1

You are oxidizing `"bismuth metal"` to `"bismuth(III) nitrate"`.......

Explanation:

Bismuth metal is oxidized to `Bi^(3+)`:

`BirarrBi^(3+) + 3e^-` `(i)`

Nitrate, `stackrel(+V)NO_3^-`, is reduced to `stackrel(+II)NO`:

`NO_3^(-) + 4H^(+) + 3e^(-) rarrNO + 2H_2O` `(ii)`

Charge and mass are balanced in both equations, and we take `(i) + (ii)`

`Bi+ NO_3^(-) + 4H^(+) rarr Bi^(3+) + NO + 2H_2O`

Is this balanced?

Else....we add `3xxNO_3^-` to each side to get......

`Bi + 4HNO_3 rarr3Bi(NO_3)_3 +NOuarr+2H_2O`