why Hno3 is highly oxidising agent
Answers
Answered by
1
Explanation:
Nitrogen can have oxidation numbers from −3 to +5. The oxidation number fo nitrogen in HNO
3
is +5. Thus, increase in oxidation number beyond +5 cannot occur. Hence, HNO
3
cannot act as reducing agent. The oxidation number of nitrogen in HNO
3
can only decrease; thus it acts as an oxidising agent. In HNO
2
, the oxidation number of nitrogen is +3. Thus, it can increase or decrease within the range −3 to +5. Hence, it can act as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent.
Similar questions