In: Chemistry
What role does the sulfuric acid play in the formation of the nitronium ion? Since nitric acid itself is an acid, then why should a second acid (the sulfuric acid) be added?
In nitronium ion formation, sulfuric acid is used to activate HNO3 to produce a stronger electrophile, the nitronium ion. As first step sulfuric acid protonates the nitric acid followed by nitric acid elliminates water molecule to produce nitronium ion. Since sulfuric acid is stronger than nitric acid it donates a proton to Nitric acid. Otherwise formation of nitronium ion will not occur.