Question
Balance the following equation by partial equation method:
Solution
It involves the following steps:
(i) Nitric acid decomposes to liberate nascent oxygen.
...(1)
(ii) Nascent oxygen reacts with copper to form cupric oxide.
...(2)
(iii) Cupric oxide combines with nitric acid to form cupric nitrate.
...(3)
Adding all the partial equation (1), (2) and (3), we get the balanced equation as
(i) Nitric acid decomposes to liberate nascent oxygen.
...(1)(ii) Nascent oxygen reacts with copper to form cupric oxide.
...(2)(iii) Cupric oxide combines with nitric acid to form cupric nitrate.
...(3)Adding all the partial equation (1), (2) and (3), we get the balanced equation as
