Balancing Reactions with elements besides O and H

[Jamie2002]

I was confused on how to set up problems that require more than just adding H2O, OH-, or H+. An example is self test 6k.1A. How do you come up with the half reactions? Are you supposed to just ignore the "extra" species and count them as spectator ions?

[Jeffrey Hablewitz 2I]

Because HNO₃ dissociates completely in solution, they can be written as aqueous ions in the chemical formula. In balancing the oxidation half-reaction, it becomes clear that NO₃- is not one of the products of the reaction- the question is somewhat misleading when it suggests that Cu(NO₃) is being formed in the reaction. In reality, Cu²⁺ is formed in the reaction, NO, and H₂O are formed in the reaction.
The half reactions are:
Oxidation: Cu(s) --> Cu²⁺(aq) + 2e^-
Reduction: NO₃^- + 4H⁺ + 3e^- --> NO + 2H₂O

Hope this helps!

[Jamie2002]

Because HNO₃ dissociates completely in solution, they can be written as aqueous ions in the chemical formula. In balancing the oxidation half-reaction, it becomes clear that NO₃- is not one of the products of the reaction- the question is somewhat misleading when it suggests that Cu(NO₃) is being formed in the reaction. In reality, Cu²⁺ is formed in the reaction, NO, and H₂O are formed in the reaction.
The half reactions are:
Oxidation: Cu(s) --> Cu²⁺(aq) + 2e^-
Reduction: NO₃^- + 4H⁺ + 3e^- --> NO + 2H₂O

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! This helped a lot, I was really confused.