15 Facts on HF + AgNO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Silver nitrate is a precursor of other silver compounds and is less sensitive to light when compared to other halides. Let us read how AgNO3 reacts with HF in the article below:

Silver nitrate (AgNO3) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) react to produce silver-fluoride salt and an acid. Silver nitrate shows a trigonal planar molecular structure containing silver and oxygen atoms. Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is an acid and exists as a colourless gas or liquid that is mainly used to obtain fluorine.

We will learn some key facts about HF + AgNO3 reaction, like redox reaction, type of reaction, products, balanced chemical equation and conjugate pairs in this article.

What is the product of HF and AgNO3

Silver fluoride (AgF) and Nitric acid (HNO3) are the products of HF + AgNO3 reaction. The chemical equation for the reaction of the HF and AgNO3 is,

HF + AgNO3 = AgF + HNO3

What type of reaction is HF + AgNO3

HF + AgNO3 is a double displacement reaction.

How to balance HF + AgNO3

The balanced chemical equation for HF + AgNO3 reaction is,

HF + AgNO3 = AgF + HNO3

  • The unbalanced equation for the reaction is,
  • HF + AgNO3 = AgF + HNO3
  • Check, if the number of moles of atoms available on the reactant side is equal to the moles of atoms available on the product side. The number of moles of atoms on both sides is:
Atoms Number of atom on reactant side Number of atom on product side
H 1 1
Ag 1 1
F 1 1
N 1 1
O 3 3
Number of moles of atoms
  • As the number of atoms is already equal; therefore, there is no need to balance the equation. The equation is already balanced.
  • Thus, the balanced chemical equation for HF + AgNO3 reaction is,
  • HF + AgNO3 = HNO3 + AgF

HF + AgNO3 titration

Titration between HF and AgNO3 is not feasible as AgNO3 is neither an acid nor a base but dissociates to give Ag+ and NO3 ions. But titrations can be possible only between acid and base to obtain an acid point at neutralization which is not possible in HF and AgNO3 cases.

HF + AgNO3 net ionic equation

For HF + AgNO3 no net ionic equation is available as discussed below.

The major steps involved in the derivation of the net ionic equation are:

  • Write the general balanced chemical equation for HF + AgNO3 reaction as,
  • HF + AgNO3 = HNO3 + AgF
  • Denote the chemical states (s, l , g or aq) of the compounds in the equation.
  • HF (aq.) + AgNO3 (aq.) = HNO3 (aq.) + AgF (aq.)
  • Break the electrolytes which are strong enough to produce ions in their aqueous solution to get the overall net ionic equation.
  • H+ (aq.) + F (aq.) + Ag+ (aq.) + NO3 (aq.) = H+ (aq.) + NO3 (aq.) + Ag+ (aq.) + F (aq.)
  • Cancel the ions present on the both sides of balanced equation to obtain the net ionic equation. Here all the ions cancel out each other; therefore, this becomes the case of No Reaction.

HF + AgNO3 conjugate pairs

HF and AgNO3 collectively do not have any conjugate pairs.

HF and AgNO3 intermolecular forces

  • Ionic bonds are present in AgNO3 because silver nitrate is an ionic compound.
  • Silver fluoride (AgF) contains covalent bonds between its molecules.

HF + AgNO3 reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy for HF + AgNO3 is 43.39 kJ/mol. The standard enthalpy of formation for the compounds involved in the reaction are:

Compounds Enthalpy of formation (in kJ/mol)
HF -332.36
AgNO3 -124.39
HNO3 -206
AgF -207.36
Reaction enthalpy of reactants and products

Reaction enthalpy (ΔHf) = Standard enthalpy of formation (product – reactant)

Thus, ΔHf = [-332.36 – 124.39] – [-207.36 – 206]

ΔHf = 43.39 kJ/mol.

Is HF + AgNO3 a buffer solution

HF + AgNO3 is not a buffer solution as HF is a strong acid, but there must be present a weak acid with its conjugate base for the formation of a buffer solution.

Is HF + AgNO3 a complete reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is a complete reaction, there are no further steps left to have proceeded.

Is HF + AgNO3 an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is an endothermic reaction because the reaction enthalpy has a positive value.

Screenshot 20221129 110938 4
Endothermic reaction graph

Is HF + AgNO3 a redox reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is not a redox reaction as the oxidation number of all the atoms remain unchanged.

Is HF + AgNO3 a precipitation reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is not a precipitation reaction as no solid product is formed after the completion of the reaction.

Is HF + AgNO3 reversible or irreversible reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is an irreversible reaction because the HNO3 formed does not react well with the AgF formed and the chemical reaction is a one-way reaction.

Is HF + AgNO3 displacement reaction

HF + AgNO3 reaction is a double displacement reaction in which the H and Ag atom displaces each other from their respective molecules to form new compounds.

Conclusion:

The article concludes that HF and AgNO3 are both strong displacers mean they take part in a displacement reaction. The reaction is endothermic and heat is given to the reaction mixture. The net ionic equation calculation and titration are also not feasible.