Question

HNO3 + Cu =Cu(NO3)2 +NO2 +H2O help with balancing :(

Answer 1

It might help to make a chart. An equation is fully balanced when you have equal amounts of each atom on both sides.

Answer 2

Now, notice that you have unequal numbers of each atom on both sides for certain ones. Well, you need to balance this. The reason being is that atoms, in a reaction, don't just disappear into nowhere! They all end up somewhere, and they all need to be accounted for in a reaction. Now. Remember that when putting numbers on one side, it follows the distributive property (algebra).

For instance, if you have: \(\sf \color{red}{CaCl_2}\), which means you have \(one\) calcium, and \(two\) chlorines, however, if you put a 2 in front, making it \(\sf \color{green}{2~CaCl_2}\), you actually now have \(two\) calcium atoms and \(four\) chlorine atoms. Does that make sense?
Also, remember that what you do to one side, you must also do to the other.

You are essentially just playing around with the numbers until you have \(nA=nB\) where n = number of whatever it is you have on left and right hand side.

Answer 3

Try it first yourself, and if you still need help, just ask.

Answer 4

Thank you! It just made things a lot easier