A lot of reactions are simple to predict; the acid-base reaction and the single and double replacement reaction that can be predicted by looking at the activity series.

 

My question was how do you predict an reaction that has to do with nonmetal. For example, how do you know if H2O will react with NO2? Hydrogen is on the activity series but Nitrogen is not since it is a nonmetal.

 

Please do help

Largely practical knowledge.

 

For example, NO2 solvated in water disproportionates to give nitric acid and nitric oxide.

 

[ce] 3NO2 (aq) + H2O (l) -> 2HNO3 (aq) + NO (g) [/ce]

 

Almost everything is explainable in terms of lewis acid-base interactions, and electronegativity can help steer reaction predictions, but guarantees nothing. For example, sulfur tetrafluoride is a toxic gas that reacts violently with water. Sulfur hexafluoride is a dense, essentially inert gas.