Balancing Equations: Help with Cu(NO3)2 and CuCO3*Cu(OH)2

[lucky_star]

Homework Statement

Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + Na₂CO₃(s) + H₂O -> CuCO₃*Cu(OH)₂(s) + NaNO₃(aq) + CO₂(g)

CuCO₃*Cu(OH)₂(s) + Heat -> CuO(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2Na₂CO₃(s) + H₂O -> CuCO₃*Cu(OH)₂(s) + 4NaNO₃(aq) + CO₂(g)

CuCO₃*Cu(OH)₂(s) + Heat -> 2CuO(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)

Can anyone help me to balance these 2 equations? I tried but neither one seems to be correct.

 

[Borek]

You are very close in the first case (there is not enough copper on the left - you need two atoms, add second molecule of copper nitrate and check if the equation is not already balanced). Also, my bet is that sodium carbonate used is in the form of solution - or even if it is added as solid, it gets dissolved before reacting (so it should be not (s)).

Second is OK.

 

[Blueshift5]

To balance these equations, we need to make sure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation. Let's start with the first equation:

Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Na2CO3(s) + H2O -> CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + NaNO3(aq) + CO2(g)

We can see that there are 2 Cu atoms on the left side and only 1 Cu atom on the right side. To balance this, we need to add a coefficient of 2 in front of CuCO3*Cu(OH)2 on the right side:

Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Na2CO3(s) + H2O -> 2CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + NaNO3(aq) + CO2(g)

Next, we can see that there are 3 O atoms on the left side and only 2 O atoms on the right side. To balance this, we need to add a coefficient of 3 in front of NaNO3 on the right side:

Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Na2CO3(s) + H2O -> 2CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + 3NaNO3(aq) + CO2(g)

Now, let's move on to the second equation:

CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + Heat -> CuO(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Here, we can see that there is only 1 Cu atom on the left side and 2 Cu atoms on the right side. To balance this, we need to add a coefficient of 2 in front of CuCO3*Cu(OH)2 on the left side:

2CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + Heat -> CuO(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Next, we can see that there are 3 O atoms on the left side and only 1 O atom on the right side. To balance this, we need to add a coefficient of 3 in front of H2O on the right side:

2CuCO3*Cu(OH)2(s) + Heat -> CuO(s) + 3H2O(l) + CO2(g)

Finally, we can see that there is only