Question

How do copper and magnesium metals react with nitric acid?

Answer 1

Well, magnesium and zinc are quite active metals.........

Explanation:

And so.....

`Mg(s) + 2HNO_3(aq) rarr Mg(NO_3)_2(aq)+H_2(g)uarr`

`Zn(s) + 2HNO_3(aq) rarr Zn(NO_3)_2(aq)+H_2(g)uarr`

That is the metals are active enuff to reduce hydrogen ion to dihydrogen.

On the other hand... copper is a little bit less active.

Copper metal is oxidized to `Cu^(2+)`:

`CurarrCu^(2+) + 2e^(-)`

And nitrate is REDUCED to `NO_2` if the nitric acid is concentrated...

`NO_3^(-) + 2H^(+) + e^(-) rarr NO_2(g)uarr+H_2O`

And so the overall equation.....

`Cu(s) + 4HNO_3(aq) rarr Cu(NO_3)_2(aq) + 2NO_2(g)uarr+2H_2O(l)`