Question

Benzene, C6H6, reacts with nitric acid, HNO3. Two products are formed, one of which is water. The second product has a molar mass of 213 grams. The second product is composed of 33.8% carbon, 1.42% hydrogen, 19.7% nitrogen, and 45.1% oxygen. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction:

Answer 1

Answer:

C₆H₆ + 3HNO₃ →  C₆H₃N₃O₆  +  3H₂O

Explanation:

The reaction is:

Benzene + Nitric acid → Water + ?

Let's determine the ? compound

Molar mass 213 g/mol

33.8g of C in 100 g of compound |

1.42 g of H in 100g of compound  | _  Percent composition

19.7 g of N in 100g of compound  |

45.1 g of O in 100g of compound  |

We propose these rule of three:

In 100 g of compound we have 33.8 g C, 1.42 g H, 19.7g N and 45.1g O

Therefore in 213g of compound we must have:

(213 .  33.8) / 100 = 72 g of C

(213 .  1.42) / 100 = 3 g of H

(213 .  19.7) / 100 = 42 g of N

(213 .  45.1) / 100 = 96 g of O

Now, we convert the mass to moles:

72 g of C . 1 mol / 12g = 6 C

3 g of H . 1 mol / 1g = 3 H

42 g of N . 1 mol / 14 g = 3 N

96 g of O . 1 mol / 16 g = 6 O

Molecular formula is C₆H₃N₃O₆. So the balanced reaction will be:

C₆H₆  +  3HNO₃ →  C₆H₃N₃O₆  +  3H₂O