Nitric Acid – Summary Notes

 Initially, nitric acid was known as aqua fortis meaning strong water. Glauber, in 1658,
prepared nitric acid. In 1776, Lavoisier proved that nitric acid contained oxygen. Later in
1784, Cavendish determined its composition.
 Occurrence
 Nitric acid occurs both in free and combined state. In the free state, traces of nitric add
are formed in the air during lightning discharge.
4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 4HNO3
In the combined state, nitric acid occurs as its salts like calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2],
Chile salt pare (NaNO3), Bengal salt pare (KNO3), etc.
 Preparation
 In the laboratory, nitric acid is prepared by heating potassium nitrate or sodium
nitrate with concentrated sulphuric acid in a retort.
<200°C
KNO3+H2SO4(conc.) → KHSO4 + HNO3
<200°C
NaNO3 +H2SO4(conc.) → NaHSO4 + HNO3
 Commercially, nitric acid is manufactured by catalytic oxidation of ammonia in a
process called the Ostwald process.
 Physical Properties
 Pure nitric acid (98%) is a colourless liquid, whereas commercial nitric acid (68%) is
yellowish brown in colour.
 It has an irritating choking smell and tastes sour.
 It is highly corrosive and non-poisonous.
 It is highly soluble in water.
 Specific gravity of pure nitric acid is 1.54, whereas specific gravity of commercial
acid is 1.42.
 It boils at 86°C and freezes to a white solid having a melting point of-42°C.
 Chemical Properties
 Nitric acid is unstable to heat and light. At a higher temperature, it decomposes to give
a yellow solution evolving a reddish brown gas nitrogen dioxide.
∆
4HNO3 → 2H2O + 4NO2 + O2
 Nitric acid is a very strong monobasic acid.
HNO3(aq) ⇋ H+ + NO3 −
 Nitric acid liberates carbon dioxide in the reaction with metallic carbonates.
CaCO3 + 2HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2↑
 Nitric acid neutralizes basic oxides forming metallic nitrates and water.
CuO + 2HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + H2O
 Nitric add neutralizes alkalis forming metallic nitrates.
NaOH + HNO3 → NaNO3 + H2O
 Nitric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent, i.e., it accepts electrons. It oxidizes certain
non-metallic elements.
C+4HNO3(conc.) → CO2 + 2H2O+4NO2↑

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  Certain metals like magnesium and manganese react with very dilute HNO3 at a low
temperature and liberate H2 gas.
Mg + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 +H2 ↑
 Tests
 Nitric acid turns blue litmus red.
 A filter paper soaked in potassium iodide solution turns brown when brought near
nitric acid vapour.
 When dilute nitric acid is treated with iron(II) sulphate solution, acidified with
concentrated sulphuric acid, a brown ring appears at the junction of the two liquids.
This is called Brown Ring Test.
 Uses: It is used:
 for the purification of silver and gold.
 in the manufacture of explosives, fertilizers, nitrates, sulphuric acid, dyes, perfumes,
drugs, aqua regia, etc.
 as a laboratory reagent.
 as a constituent of rocket fuels.
 in the preparation of photographic films.

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