The equation 4HNO3 + 5H2S -> 4H2SO4 + 10NO + 2H2O

  1. The chemical equation above describes the reaction between nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitrogen monoxide (NO), and water (H2O).

  2. Reaction conditions: This reaction takes place under standard temperature and pressure conditions.

  3. Reaction process: When nitric acid and hydrogen sulfide are mixed together, the molecules of HNO3 and H2S interact with each other to form molecules of H2SO4, NO, and H2O. More specifically, the nitrogen in nitric acid is reduced from the +5 oxidation state to +2, while the sulfur in H2S is oxidized from -2 to +6.

  4. Observed phenomena: During the reaction process, one can observe the bubbling of nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas and the simultaneous formation of the chemical product sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The produced NO is a brown gas when it comes into contact with air.

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