Given the reaction: cu(s) + 4hno3(aq) → cu(no3)2(aq) + 2no3(g) + 2h2o(l )as the reaction occurs, what happens to copper?

From the reaction between Cu and HNO₃, the formed gas is NO₂ instead of NO₃. Hence the correct balanced equation would be,
Cu(s) + 4HNO₃(aq) → Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2NO₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)

Here, Cu goes to Cu(NO₃)₂ by changing its oxidation number from 0 to +2 while NO₃⁻ goes to NO₂ by reducing its oxidation state from +5 to +4 . Hence Cu is oxidized by HNO₃ in the reaction.

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aliasger2709 aliasger2709 · Answer 2 · 2022-06-06T12:07:42+02:00

When copper reacts with nitric acid, then cooper nitrate, water, and nitrogen dioxide are produced. In this reaction, copper gets oxidized by nitric acid.

What is oxidation?

Oxidation is a type of chemical reaction involving the sharing of electrons and an increase or decrease of the oxidation number. When a chemical species loses an electron, it is said to be oxidized.

The balanced chemical reaction is given as:

Cu(s) + 4HNO₃(aq) → Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2NO₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)

In the reaction, copper forms copper nitrate, and its oxidation changes from 0 to +2. On the other hand, nitrate species get reduced to nitrogen dioxide and change the state from +5 to +4.

Therefore, copper gets oxidized by nitric acid.

Learn more about oxidization here:

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