Benzene, C6H6, reacts with nitric acid, HNO3. Two products are formed, one of which is water. The second product has a molar mass of 213 grams. The second product is composed of 33.8% carbon, 1.42% hydrogen, 19.7% nitrogen, and 45.1% oxygen. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction:

C₆H₆ + 3HNO₃ → C₆H₃N₃O₆ + 3H₂O

Explanation:

The reaction is:

Benzene + Nitric acid → Water + ?

Let's determine the? compound

Molar mass 213 g/mol

33.8g of C in 100 g of compound |

1.42 g of H in 100g of compound | _ Percent composition

19.7 g of N in 100g of compound |

45.1 g of O in 100g of compound |

We propose these rule of three:

In 100 g of compound we have 33.8 g C, 1.42 g H, 19.7g N and 45.1g O

Therefore in 213g of compound we must have:

(213. 33.8) / 100 = 72 g of C

(213. 1.42) / 100 = 3 g of H

(213. 19.7) / 100 = 42 g of N

(213. 45.1) / 100 = 96 g of O

Now, we convert the mass to moles:

72 g of C. 1 mol / 12g = 6 C

3 g of H. 1 mol / 1g = 3 H

42 g of N. 1 mol / 14 g = 3 N

96 g of O. 1 mol / 16 g = 6 O

Molecular formula is C₆H₃N₃O₆. So the balanced reaction will be:

C₆H₆ + 3HNO₃ → C₆H₃N₃O₆ + 3H₂O