Using the half-reaction method, balance the following redox reaction occurring in acidic solution:
Ag + NO3- - Ag+ + NO

Question

Using the half-reaction method, balance the following redox reaction occurring in acidic solution:
Ag + NO3- -> Ag+ + NO

anonymous · Answer

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xishem · Answer

The two half-reactions are...

$$Ag \rightarrow Ag^+$$and...$$NO_3 \rightarrow NO$$
Let's start by balancing the first half-reaction...$$Ag \rightarrow Ag^+$$The amounts are already balanced; 1:1. The oxygens are balanced. So all that's left is to balance the charge...$$Ag \rightarrow Ag^+ + e^-$$Now let's do the other equation... Amounts of nitrogen are balanced, so we first need to balance the oxygens...$$NO_3 \rightarrow NO$$$$4H^+ + NO_3 \rightarrow NO+2H_2O$$Next, we need to balance charge...$$4e^- + 4H^+ + NO_3 \rightarrow NO + 2H_2O$$
Now let's go ahead and rewrite each half-reaction after being balanced by themselves...
$$Ag \rightarrow Ag^+ + e^-$$$$4e^- + 4H^+ + NO_3 \rightarrow NO + 2H_2O$$Now we need to multiply by some factor to get the electrons to cancel out. In this case, that factor is 4, which needs to be applied to the top half-reaction...$$4(Ag \rightarrow Ag^+ + e^-)=4Ag \rightarrow 4Ag^+ + 4e^-$$Then we combine this half-reaction with the second one above to get...$$4Ag + 4H^+ + NO_3 \rightarrow 4Ag^+ + NO + 2H_2O$$

xishem · Answer

skylark93 is correct. Since the NO3 has a charge of -1, the factor would be 3 instead of 4.

cowboy · Answer

Thanks guys. It was just not coming to me at the moment. You really put me back on track.

anonymous · Answer

welcome (^_^) your question might be my test question for tomorrow....wish me good luck guys...

cowboy · Answer

Wow, cool. Well good luck! I'm sure you'll do great! :D

anonymous · Answer

thanks....