Question

What coefficient of ${\mathrm{AgNO}}_3$ is required to balance the following equation? $\mathrm{Cu}+{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\to \mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2+\mathrm{Ag}$

Answer 1

Reaction of Copper with Silver nitrate:

• When Copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ reacts with Silver nitrate $\left({\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\right)$ solution, Copper nitrate $\left(\mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\right)$ is formed along with Silver $\left(\mathrm{Ag}\right)$.
• This reaction can be considered a displacement reaction as in this reaction Copper displaces silver from its solution.
• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to \mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

Balancing the Reaction:

• The reaction given above is not balanced. In order to balance this reaction, a stoichiometric coefficient $2$ is added in front of ${\mathrm{AgNO}}_3$ and in front of $\mathrm{Ag}$ as well which balances the other atoms too.
• The balanced chemical equation can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to \mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$