Question

Hno2 acts as both oxidizing as well as reducing agent but hno3 acts as only oxidizing agent. give reason.

Answer 1

HEY MATE ^_^

=> In HNO3 , oxidizing state of nitrogen is +5.

The maximum and minimum oxidation state of nitrogen are +5 and  -3 respectively.Thus there is only one possibility to decrease the oxidation state of nitrogen. In other words, HNO3 can be reduced only and hence acts as an oxidizing agent only.

=> In HNO2, oxidation state of nitrogen is +3. Thus oxidation state of nitrogen present in HNO2 can be increased or decreased and hence it can act as an oxidizing agent or as a reducing agent.

#Be Braily

Answer 2

Hello mate here is your answer.

in hno3 the oxidation state of Nitrogen is +5 which is the maximum oxidation state that can be attained by it. The only possibility now is that it can be reduced. Therefore it acts as an oxidising agent. While in HNO2 the oxidation state of Nitrogen is +4. So Nitrogen can get oxidized as wellas reduced. Therefore it acts both as oxidizing and reducing agent.

Hope it helps you.