Chemistry
State why nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent and yields varying products such as NO, NO2 on reaction with metals, non-metals etc.
Answer
The oxidizing property of nitric acid is based on the fact that when nitric acid undergoes decomposition, it yields nascent oxygen, which is very reactive.
2HNO3 (hot conc.) ⟶ H2O + 2NO2 + [O]
2HNO3 (mod. conc.) ⟶ H2O + 2NO + 3[O]
The nascent oxygen oxidises non-metals, metals, inorganic and organic compounds. Nitric acid itself undergoes reduction in a number of ways hence a number of reduction products [NO, NO2, N2O etc.] are formed depending on the acid concentration and the temperature of the reaction.
Related Questions
State the change in colour of pure concentrated nitric acid on initial and prolonged decomposition.
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Give an equation for reaction of conc. HNO3 with :
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(ii) copper.
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