Question

Balancing equations using linear substituion

Answer 1

I have to balance this equation:
Cu + HNO3 = Cu(NO3)2 + NO + H2O

I find that the answer is
3Cu + 8HNO3 = 3Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O

But I have no idea how to get there

I found a wesite talking about using a linear substittuion, basically rewriting the equation like this

a*Cu + b*HNO3 = c*Cu(NO3)2 + d*NO + e*H2O

Since the same number of atoms exist on both sides, it becomes:

Cu: a=c
H: b=2e
N: b=2c+d
O: 3b=6c+d+e

Answer 2

@dan815 help please

Answer 3

You can't balance that, what is NO here, or is that suppose to be NO2?