Science, asked by smilyshreeya377, 1 year ago

Why is nitric acid a strong oxidizing agent?

Answers

Answered by MacTavish343
29
Helloo!!

That +5 is the highest common oxidation state for N. If N is reduced to say +4 as in NO2 or +2 in NO, it's charge is reduced and N is therefore an oxidizing agent for that particular reaction 

So.. HNO3 is an oxidizing AGENT because the N can be readily reduced. 

hope it helps
Answered by Serinus
19

Nitric acid is an active oxidizing agent. Nitric acid actively oxidizes non-metals, metals, inorganic compounds, and organic substances.

Nitric acid undergoes reduction to develop different reduction results like NO, NO2, N2O, etc., These results depend on the acid concentration and the temperature of the reaction. Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent and the nascent oxygen produced on decomposition oxidizes hydrogen to water.

This is the purpose why it does not release hydrogen when operated with metals.

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