Quick Question About Chemistry: Nitric Acid as formula

[Coldkilla]

Would Nitric Acide Appear as:

HNO(subscript)3 (aq)?

If that is the case. Lets say it was Nitrious Acid. How can I distinquish the two?

 

[PurdueRy]

HNO2 is nitrous acid

 

[Coldkilla]

So: Ous means one less oxygen? In all cases? Sorry lemme rephrase that: Is 'ous' one less oxygen from the normal # of oxygens in the original polyatomic ion?

 

[PurdueRy]

I am hesitant to say yes for all cases as chemistry is weird like that...but generally yes that is the case

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
So: Ous means one less oxygen? In all cases? Sorry lemme rephrase that: Is 'ous' one less oxygen from the normal # of oxygens in the original polyatomic ion?

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/chemistry/Acid.html

 

[deepred98]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
So: Ous means one less oxygen? In all cases? Sorry lemme rephrase that: Is 'ous' one less oxygen from the normal # of oxygens in the original polyatomic ion?

if there are two forms of the polyatomic molecule then "ous" is for the one with less oxygen, "ic" for more (i think, this could just be for acids though)

 

[Coldkilla]

I tried applying this to balancing a chemical equation:

Nitric Acid + Calcium Hydroxide --> Calcium Nitrate + Water

I the equation (I believe):

__HNO3 + __ CaOH2 --> __Ca(NO3)2 + __HOH

Confuses me because I have an odd number of oxygens on the right, and an even number on the left and Im having a hard time balancing this. Unless the equation I just made doesnt work.

 

[Coldkilla]

any ideas?

 

[James3shin]

are you trying to balance the equation (__HNO3 + __ CaOH2 --> __Ca(NO3)2 + __HOH )?

edit#1:

actually that eq isn't even a Acid/Base rxn...HNO3 is the acid and CaOH2 is the base. HNO3 will lose it's H to the CaOH2 and Ca will form a salt with the NO3, along with producing H3O+.

edit#2:

oops. read the eq wrong... yeah water will form should have read Ca(OH)2

answer:

2 HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 ==> Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O