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Ch.20 - Electrochemistry
All textbooksTro 5th EditionCh.20 - ElectrochemistryProblem 110
Chapter 20, Problem 110

Determine if HNO3 can dissolve each metal sample. If it can, write a balanced chemical reaction showing how the metal dissolves in HNO3 and determine the minimum volume of 6.0 M HNO3 required to completely dissolve the sample. a. 5.90 g Au b. 2.55 g Cu c. 4.83 g Sn

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insert step 1: Determine if HNO3 can dissolve gold (Au) by considering the reactivity of gold and the properties of HNO3. Gold is a noble metal and is resistant to most acids, but it can be dissolved by aqua regia, a mixture of HNO3 and HCl. However, concentrated HNO3 alone is not sufficient to dissolve gold.
insert step 2: Since HNO3 alone cannot dissolve gold, there is no need to write a balanced chemical reaction for the dissolution of gold in HNO3.
insert step 3: As HNO3 cannot dissolve gold, there is no need to calculate the minimum volume of 6.0 M HNO3 required.
insert step 4: If the problem required the dissolution of a different metal that can react with HNO3, you would write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction and use stoichiometry to determine the moles of HNO3 needed.
insert step 5: For a metal that can react with HNO3, you would then use the molarity of the HNO3 solution to calculate the volume required to completely dissolve the metal sample.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acid-Base Reactions

Acid-base reactions involve the transfer of protons (H+) between reactants. In this context, nitric acid (HNO3) acts as a strong acid that can donate protons to metals, facilitating their dissolution. Understanding how acids interact with metals is crucial for predicting the products of the reaction and determining the stoichiometry involved.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the balanced equation. It allows us to determine the amount of HNO3 needed to dissolve a given mass of gold (Au). By using molar masses and the balanced chemical equation, we can find the minimum volume of HNO3 required for complete dissolution.
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Metal Reactivity

Metal reactivity refers to the tendency of a metal to undergo chemical reactions, particularly with acids. Gold (Au) is a noble metal, meaning it is less reactive and does not dissolve easily in most acids. However, HNO3 can oxidize gold, leading to its dissolution, which is essential to consider when predicting the outcome of the reaction.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Determine whether HI can dissolve each metal sample. If it can, write a balanced chemical reaction showing how the metal dissolves in HI and determine the minimum volume of 3.5 M HI required to completely dissolve the sample. a. 2.15 g Al

Textbook Question

Determine whether HI can dissolve each metal sample. If it can, write a balanced chemical reaction showing how the metal dissolves in HI and determine the minimum volume of 3.5 M HI required to completely dissolve the sample. b. 4.85 g Cu

Textbook Question

Determine whether HI can dissolve each metal sample. If it can, write a balanced chemical reaction showing how the metal dissolves in HI and determine the minimum volume of 3.5 M HI required to completely dissolve the sample. c. 2.42 g Ag

Textbook Question

The cell potential of this electrochemical cell depends on the pH of the solution in the anode half-cell. Pt(s) | H2(g, 1 atm) | H+(aq, ? M) || Cu2+(aq, 1.0 M) | Cu(s) What is the pH of the solution if Ecell is 355 mV?

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Textbook Question

The cell potential of this electrochemical cell depends on the gold concentration in the cathode half-cell. Pt(s) | H2(g, 1.0 atm) | H+(aq, 1.0 M) || Au3+(aq, ? M) | Au(s) What is the concentration of Au3+ in the solution if Ecell is 1.22 V?

Textbook Question

A friend wants you to invest in a new battery she has designed that produces 24 V in a single voltaic cell. Why should you be wary of investing in such a battery?