Question

why only Mg and Mn reacts with nitric acid to produce hydrogen, not any other metal ?

Answer 1

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Why is it that only mg and mn liberate h2...

Why is it that only mg and mn liberate h2 gas on reaction with extremely dilute hno3.

one year ago

Answers : (1)

Technically, metal + acid ----> metal salt +water.
But when we look at HNO3, it has a tendency to form H2O and not H2 when it reacts with metals. 

But, Magnesium and Mangenese are two metals that traditionally, liberate H2 and not H2O when they react with HNO3. This is because, when they initially react, they do form H2O, but the Mg or Mn metals arestrong reducing agents and hence they reduce H2O and themselves oxidise. This leaves them with only H2 gas, instead of H2O.

Hence, when Mg/Mn reacts with Nitric acid to form a salt and H2O, but the H2O is quickly (almost instantaneously) reduced and converted to H2 gas. 

Answer 2

Answer:Because of H2 ions present in HNO3 .

Explanation: It is because of the activity of hydrogen ions in comparison to the metals, due to reduction potential of over voltage , H2 gas is produced spontaneously .

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