Question

Which is the correct balanced molecular equation for the reaction of ammonia (NH₃) with nitric acid (HNO₃) in water?

a) NH₃(aq) + HNO₃(aq) → NH4NO₃(aq)
b) NH₃(aq) + H+(aq) + NO₃-(aq) → NH4+(aq) + NO₃-(aq)
c) NH₃(aq) + H+(aq) → NH4+(aq)
d) NH₃(aq) + H₂O(l) + H+(aq) + NO₃-(aq) → NH4+(aq) + NO₃-(aq) + H+ + OH-(aq)
e) H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H₂O(l)

Answer 1

The correct balanced molecular equation for the reaction of ammonia with nitric acid is NH₃(aq) + HNO₃(aq) → NH₄NO₃(aq), which is a simple acid-base neutralization reaction forming ammonium nitrate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct balanced molecular equation for the reaction of ammonia (NH₃) with nitric acid (HNO₃) is:
NH₃(aq) + HNO₃(aq) → NH₄NO₃(aq)

This shows that ammonia reacts with nitric acid to form ammonium nitrate in water. The ammonia acts as a base, accepting a proton from nitric acid, which acts as an acid. The reaction is a straightforward acid-base neutralization, where the hydrogen ion (H+) from nitric acid combines with the lone pair on the nitrogen of the ammonia molecule to form the ammonium ion (NH₄+), leaving behind the nitrate ion (NO₃-) in solution.