The common acid anhydrides of nitrogen are \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}, \mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}\), and \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{5}\). Write the formulas of their corresponding acids and chemical equations for the formation of the acids by the reaction of the anhydrides with water.

Chemical reaction equations are symbolic representations of chemical reactions. They quantify the relationship between reactants, which are the starting materials, and products, which are the substances formed as a result of the reaction. Each equation is comprised of chemical formulas that denote the participating chemical species, and arrows that indicate the direction of the reaction.

For instance, in the case of nitrogen acid anhydrides reacting with water, the equations represent the transformation of an anhydride into its corresponding acid. The skeleton equation for the reaction of dinitrogen monoxide (N₂O) with water would be: N₂O + H₂O → acids. This basic structure does not provide information about the specific acid produced or the balance of atoms, which must be determined through additional steps.

Balancing chemical equations is a critical skill in chemistry that ensures the law of conservation of mass is respected; the number of atoms for each element must be the same on both sides of a chemical equation. Starting with the skeleton equation, coefficients are added before the formulas to balance the atoms. Using the example before, the balanced equation for N₂O and water forming hyponitrous acid (H₂N₂O₂) is:

N₂O + H₂O → 2 HNO

To properly balance the equation, we must understand the stoichiometry – the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. In the above equation, a coefficient of '2' is needed before 'HNO' to balance the available nitrogen atoms. Similarly, this process must be repeated for reactions involving N₂O₃ and N₂O₅.

Acid-base chemistry is a fundamental aspect of chemical reactions involving the exchange of protons (H⁺) between reactants. Acids are substances that can donate a proton, while bases can accept a proton. When acid anhydrides react with water, they form acidic solutions by transferring a proton to water molecules. This specific type of reaction, where an anhydride reacts with water to form an acid, is known as hydrolysis.

In the context of nitrogen acid anhydrides, N₂O is an anhydride that reacts with water to create hyponitrous acid, N₂O₃ forms nitrous acid, and N₂O₅ forms nitric acid. Each resulting acid varies in strength and chemical behavior, reflecting the differing oxidation states of nitrogen in these compounds (+1, +3, and +5, respectively). Understanding these nuances in acid-base reactions is crucial for predicting the properties and behaviors of the resulting acids.