Question

Someone explain with example that why HNO3 is an oxidising agent and how does it gets reduced in a reaction.

Answer 1

Heyy....


When a metal reacts with dilute nitric acid then hydrogen gas is not evolved..that means..Nitric acid is a strong oxidising agent,so,as soon as hydrogen gas is formed in the reaction between a metal and dilute nitric acid, the nitric acid oxidises this hydrogen to water...and hence hydrogen is not evolved..

However, magnesium and manganese are exceptions...that is when magnesium and manganese react with nitric acid only then hydrogen gas is evolved..

Hope it helped..

Answer 2

It is because it oxidizes the H produced to water and itself get reduced to one of the nitrogen oxides (nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc.)