Question

Nitric acid is often manufactured from the atmospheric gases nitrogen and oxygen, plus hydrogen prepared by reforming of natural gas, in a two-step process. In the first step, nitrogen and hydrogen react to form ammonia: (g)(g)(g) In the second step, ammonia and oxygen react to form nitric acid and water: (g)(g)(g)(g) Write the net chemical equation for the production of nitric acid from nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. Be sure your equation is balanced.

Answer 1

Answer: $N_2(g)+3H_2(g)+4O_2(g)\rightarrow 2HNO_3(g)+2H_2O(g)$

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of mass, mass can neither be created nor be destroyed. Thus the mass of products has to be equal to the mass of reactants. The number of atoms of each element has to be same on reactant and product side. Thus chemical equations are balanced.

The balanced chemical reaction for nitrogen and hydrogen react to form ammonia:

$N_2(g)+3H_2(g)\rightarrow 2NH_3(g)$     (1)

The balanced chemical reaction for ammonia and oxygen react to form nitric acid and water:

$NH_3(g)+2O_2(g)\rightarrow HNO_3(g)+H_2O(g)$ $\times 2$

$2NH_3(g)+4O_2(g)\rightarrow 2HNO_3(g)+2H_2O(g)$    (2)

The net chemical equation for the production of nitric acid from nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen by adding 1 and 2

$N_2(g)+3H_2(g)+4O_2(g)\rightarrow 2HNO_3(g)+2H_2O(g)$