Question

A strip of copper is immersed in dilute nitric acid
(i) write a BALANCED equation
Answer: Cu + 2H + NO3 --> Cu + No2 +H2O


(ii) What happens to the pH of this solution as the reaction proceeds?

Answer 1

Cu+ 2HNO3 => Cu(No3)2 + H2

ii)pH of this solution becomes neutral

Answer 2

No, the above reaction is not correct because copper does not react with H+ ions.

Balancing the reaction implies writing the right charges first.

Answer 3

Copper is oxidized by strong oxidizing acids, @VIncent-Lyon.Fr, such as HNO3.

http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/kboudrea/demos/copper_HNO3/Cu_HNO3.htm