In: Chemistry
Nitrate ion is a good oxidizing agent in acidic solution, and silver metal, which does not react with HCl (aq), readily reacts with nitric acid, HNO3 (aq). Explain why
Soln) Nitrate ion (NO3^-1) is a good oxidising agent in acidic solution becoz:
i)nitrogen atom in nitrate ion is in its highest oxidation state (+5) so it can be readily reduced further
ii)on reaction of nitric acid with metals causes oxidation of hydrogen to form water which shows its strong oxidising behavior
Silver does not react with HCL because:
i) silver has higher reduction potential than hydrogen and hence it cannot displace hydrogen from acid due to lower reactivity than hydrogen in reactivity series
Silver reacts readily with nitric acid because:
i) nitric acid is strong oxidising agent which readily oxidises non metals,metals ,inorganic and organic substances and itself gets reduced easily.
with hot conc nitric acid :
Ag + 2HNO3 ----------------------------->AgNO3 + NO2 + H2O
with cold dilute nitrc acid :
Ag + HNO3 -------------------------------->AgNO3 + NO + H2O