Question

Whalen metals are treated with mineral acids , hydrogen gas is liberated but when metals except Mn, Nd, Mg are treated with HNO3 hydrogen is not liberated, why ? - 2 marks. Plz answer fast

Answer 1

Generally, when metals are treated with mineral acids, hydrogen gas is liberated but when metals (except Mn and Mg) are treated with HNO3, hydrogen is not liberated, why?


Nitric acid (HNO3) 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 itself gets reduced to NO2 or NO orN2O. So, in the reaction of metals (except Mn and Mg) with dilute nitric acid, no hydrogen gas is evolved