Answer:
a. 2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l)
b. i. NO₂⁻ is the oxidizing agent
ii. NO₃⁻ is the reducing agent.
Explanation:
a. Balance the following skeleton reaction
The reaction is
NO₂ (g) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq)
The half reactions are
NO₂ (g) → NO₃⁻ (aq) (1) and
NO₂ (g) → NO₂⁻ (aq) (2)
We balance the number of oxygen atoms in equation(1) by adding one H₂O molecule to the left side.
So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq)
We now add two hydrogen ions 2H⁺ on the right hand side to balance the number of hydrogen atoms
NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq)
The charge on the left hand side is zero while the total charge on the right hand side is -1 + 2 = +1. To balance the charge on both sides, we add one electron to the right hand side.
So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻ (4)
Since the number of atoms in equation two are balanced, we balance the charge since the charge on the left hand side is zero and that on the right hand side is -1. So, we add one electron to the left hand side.
So, NO₂ (g) + e⁻ → NO₂⁻ (aq) (5)
We now add equation (4) and (5)
So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻ (4)
+ NO₂ (g) + e⁻ → NO₂⁻ (aq) (5)
2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + e⁻ → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻ (4)
2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq)
We now add two hydroxide ions to both sides of the equation.
So, 2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + 2OH⁻ (aq)
The hydrogen ion and the hydroxide ion become a water molecule
2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + 2H₂O (l)
2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l)
So, the required reaction is
2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l)
b. Identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent
Since the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₂ is -2. Since the oxidation number of NO₂ is zero, we let x be the oxidation number of N.
So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = 0
x + 2(-2) = 0
x - 4 = 0
x = 4
Since the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₂⁻ is -1. Since the oxidation number of NO₂⁻ is -1, we let x be the oxidation number of N.
So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = 0
x + 2(-2) = -1
x - 4 = -1
x = 4 - 1
x = 3
Also, the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₃⁻ is -1. Since the oxidation number of NO₃⁻ is -1, we let x be the oxidation number of N.
So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = -1
x + 3(-2) = -1
x - 6 = -1
x = 6 - 1
x = 5
i. The oxidizing agent
The oxidation number of N changes from +4 in NO₂ to +3 in NO₂⁻. So, Nitrogen is reduced and thus NO₂⁻ is the oxidizing agent
ii. The reducing agent
The oxidation number of N changes from +4 in NO₂ to +5 in NO₃⁻. So, Nitrogen is oxidized and thus and NO₃⁻ is the reducing agent.
