Two personalities
Part 2 — Nitric acid behaves both as an acid (it gives H⁺ ions) and as an oxidising agent (it gives oxygen). Which one wins depends on the concentration and on what it meets.
In this lesson you will
- Explain why nitric acid is a strong oxidising agent
- Write equations for concentrated and dilute nitric acid with copper, and for the concentrated acid with carbon and sulphur
- Explain why only very dilute nitric acid gives hydrogen, and with which metals
- Write equations for nitric acid with bases, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates and sulphites, and describe tests for the acid
| Behaviour | Typical reaction | Usual products |
|---|---|---|
| Oxidising agent | With copper, carbon, sulphur | A nitrate or oxide, water and NO₂ or NO |
| Acid | With bases, carbonates, sulphites | A nitrate, water (and CO₂ or SO₂) |
| Acid giving hydrogen | Only very dilute acid with Mg or Mn | A nitrate and hydrogen |