Scribd
Upload
77 views11 pages

Nitric Acid Semester 2

Nitric acid is formed naturally through lightning producing nitric oxide from nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere. The nitric oxide is further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in rainwater to produce nitric acid. In the laboratory, nitric acid is produced by reacting sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate with concentrated sulfuric acid. Nitric acid is a colorless, corrosive liquid that is commonly used for etching metals and purifying gold due its strong oxidizing properties.

Uploaded by

Aditya M Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
77 views11 pages

Nitric Acid Semester 2

Nitric acid is formed naturally through lightning producing nitric oxide from nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere. The nitric oxide is further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in rainwater to produce nitric acid. In the laboratory, nitric acid is produced by reacting sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate with concentrated sulfuric acid. Nitric acid is a colorless, corrosive liquid that is commonly used for etching metals and purifying gold due its strong oxidizing properties.

Uploaded by

Aditya M Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Also known as Aqua Fortis meaning 'Strong Water'

as it reacts with nearly all metals.

FORMATION OF NITRIC ACID IN NATURE


1) Nitrogen combines with O2 in atmosphere during lightning discharge
to form Nitric Oxide.
N2 + O2 → 2NO (Nitric Oxide)
2) Nitric Oxide to further oxidised to Nitrogen dioxide.
2NO + O2 → 2NO2
3) Nitrogen dioxide dissolve in rain water with O2 and form Nitric Acid.
4NO2 + 2H2O + O2 → 4HNO3
The conversion of free atmospheric N2 into useful Nitrogenous
compound is called 'fixation of atmospheric Nitrogen'.

LAB PREPARATION OF NITRIC ACID

Nitre/Chile Saltpetre + Conc. H2SO4 → Pot/Sod bisulphate + HNO3


KNO3 + H2SO4 → KHSO4 + HNO3
NaNO3 + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HNO3
HNO3 is light yellow because of presence of NO2 (Reddish Brown Gas).

Pure Acid is colourless. To remove yellow colour of Lab HNO3:


i) Dry Air or CO2 is passed, it oxides NO2 to Nitric Acid.
ii) Adding excess of H2O which dissolves NO2.
Precautions: All glass apparatus should be used. Conc. HCl is not used
in place of Conc. H2SO4 as it is volatile. Temp should not exceed 200°C
as it may damage the apparatus & HNO3 may decompose.

Physical Properties:
1) Colour - pure HNO3, colourless con. HNO3 yellow.
2) Odour - Suffocating.
3) Taste - Acidic.
4) Nature - Hygroscopic and fumes in air. So bottle is always supported.
5) Physiological Nature - form blisters on reacting with skin and gives
yellow stains due to formation of Xanthoproteic Acid.

Chemical Properties:
1) Stability - It is unstable to heat/sunlight. It decomposes into NO2 and
H2O and O2. That's why it is stored in colourless bottles.
2) It is monobasic acid. It ionises into H+ and NO3- ions.
3) It reacts with Alkali to form salt and water only.
4) It reacts with carbonates/bicarbonates to give salt, water & CO2.

Oxidising Property - HNO3 oxidises metal/nonmetal, organic/inorganic


substances. It has powerful oxidising property due to Nascent Oxygen
produced on decomposition.
For Ex:
C + 4HNO3 → CO2 + 2H2O + 4NO2 (Carbon oxidised to CO2)
S + 6HNO3 → H2SO4 + 2H2O + 6NO2 (Sulphur oxidised to H2SO4)
3Cu + (Dil. )8HNO3 → 3Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO
Cu + (Conc. )4HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2H2O + 2NO2
Iron, Al, Ni & Co become passive on reacting with Conc. HNO3 due to
formation of thin layer of Metallic oxide. Passivity can be removed by
rubbing with sand paper or reacting with strong reducing agent.

USES OF NITRIC ACID


1. To etch designs on copper and brassware.
2. To purify gold.
3. Act as rocket fuel and used in preparation of nitric acid.

Tests For Nitric Acid:


1. Conc. Nitric Acid produces Nitrogen dioxide brown fumes on
heating.
2. Brown Ring Test. Freshly prepared solution of iron II sulphate is
added to nitric acid then conc. Sulphuric acid is carefully added to
the sides.

A brown Ring is produced at the junction of 2 liquids. The Brown


ring is of Nitrosopherous sulphate.
Ostwald Process

Step I:- Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia


4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O + Heat
Step II:- Oxidation of Nitric Oxide in oxidation of chamber
2NO(g) + O2(g) →2NO2(g)
Step III:- Absorption of nitrogen dioxide in water
4NO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g) → 4HNO3 (aq.)

Concentration of Nitric Acid


Nitric acid up to 98% (fuming nitric acid) is obtained by distilling 68%
HNO3 over conc. sulphuric acid.
1. Copper turnings are heated with concentrated nitric acid.

Ans. When copper turnings are heated with concentrated nitric acid, copper
nitrate, water and nitrogen dioxide gas (which has reddish brown colour and
pungent smell) is evolved.

2. Nitric acid reacts with glycerol.

Ans. Nitric acid react with glycerol in presence of conc. H2SO4 below 25°C to
form glycerol tri-nitrate.

3. Nitric acid reacts with phenol in presence of conc. sulphuric acid.

Ans. Nitric acid reacts with phenol in presence of conc. sulphuric acid to form
orange coloured compound, picric acid.
4. When a few drops of concentrated nitric acid are dropped on hot saw dust.

Ans. Hot saw dust catches fire. This is because concentrated nitric acid
decomposes to give oxygen at a higher temperature. Oxygen gas is a supporter
of combustion and it supports the combustion of hot saw dust, which catches
fire.

5. When a little water is added to a yellow-coloured nitric acid.

Ans. The yellow colouration of nitric acid is due to the decomposition of nitric
acid into nitrogen dioxide and other oxides of nitrogen. When a little water is
added, all these oxides of nitrogen are dissolved and thus the acid becomes
colourless.

6. Concentrated nitric acid is added to copper.

Ans. When conc. HNO3 is added to copper, a reddish-brown gas (NO2) having
pungent smell is evolved.

7. Action of nitric acid on limestone.

Ans. Carbon dioxide gas is liberated when nitric acid reacts with limestone.

8. Action of heat on concentrated nitric acid.

Ans. When conc. HNO3 is heated, it rapidly decomposes to reddish brown


nitrogen dioxide gas along with the formation of water and oxygen gas.
9. Nitric acid comes in contact with skin.

Ans. The acid produces yellow stain on skin and wood, since skin and wood
contain protein. The protein reacts with nitric acid to produce xanthoproteic
complex compound. This compound is yellow in colour.

10. An aqueous solution of KI(aq) is added to HNO3.

Ans. When HNO3 is added to KI(aq), it is oxidised to Iodine. During the reaction,
violet colour vapours of iodine is observed.

11. Dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute nitric acid. (chemical tests)

Ans. Silver nitrate solution when added to dil. hydrochloric acid will give a white
ppt. and when added to dil. nitric acid no change will be observed.

12. Nitrogen obtained from air is more dense as compared to nitrogen obtained
from chemicals. Why ?

Ans. Nitrogen obtained from air contains traces of inert gases and therefore, it is
more dense as compared to chemical nitrogen.

13. Nitric oxide gas and nitrous oxide gas.

Ans. If reddish brown fumes are produced in the atmosphere of oxygen then the
given sample of gas is nitric oxide and if no brown fumes are produced and the
mixture remains colourless, then the gas is nitrous oxide.
14. Oxygen gas and nitrous oxide gas.

Ans. Carbon (red hot) burns in oxygen to form carbon dioxide gas only, but in
nitrous oxide it forms carbon dioxide gas and nitrogen.

15. During the manufacture of nitric acid by Ostwald’s process excess of oxygen
is taken. Give reason.

Ans. Excess of oxygen is taken during the manufacture of nitric acid by


Ostwald’s process because each and every step requires oxygen.

16. In the laboratory preparation of nitric acid, it can be obtained below 200°C or
above 200°C, but the lower temperature is preferred. Why?

Ans. The lower temperature is favoured due to the following reasons :


(i) The glass apparatus may break at higher temperature.
(ii) A significant amount of nitric acid gets decomposed at higher temperature.
(iii) At higher temperature, potassium or sodium sulphate are formed, which
cannot be easily removed from the apparatus.

17. Concentrated nitric acid fumes when kept open. Why?

Ans. Concentrated nitric acid fumes when kept open because it contains
considerable amount of nitrogen dioxide which escapes when exposed.

18. Nitric acid stains the skin yellow. Give reason.


Ans. Dilute nitric acid reacts with the proteins of the skin and forms a yellow
compound called xanthoproteic acid. Hence, the skin becomes yellow. Conc.
nitric acid causes blisters on the skin and is highly corrosive.

19. Iron is rendered passive with fuming nitric acid. Why?

Ans. Iron is rendered passive with fuming nitric acid because of the formation of
reddish-brown layer of iron oxide which prevents its further reaction with the
acid.

20. During a thunderstorm, the rain water contains traces of nitric acid. Why?

Ans. Nitrogen present in atmosphere combines with oxygen to form nitric oxide
in the presence of electric spark due to lightening produced from a
thunderstorm. Nitric oxide is further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen
dioxide dissolves in water in the presence of oxygen of air to form nitric acid.

You might also like