Question

List the reason for the oxidizing properties of Nitric Acid.

Answer 1

Nitric acid ($HN{O_3}$) is a colourless, fuming, and extremely corrosive liquid with a freezing point of - 42 degrees Celsius (- 44 degrees Fahrenheit) and a boiling point of 83 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a popular laboratory reagent as well as an effective industrial chemical used in fertiliser and explosive production. It's poisonous and can cause serious burns.

Complete answer: Nitric acid ($HNO_3$) is a colourless, fuming, and extremely corrosive liquid with a freezing point of - 42 degrees Celsius (- 44 degrees Fahrenheit) and a boiling point of 83 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a popular laboratory reagent as well as an effective industrial chemical used in fertiliser and explosive production. It's poisonous and can cause serious burns.
Nitric acid decomposes into a brownish yellow solution of water, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen. It is a potent oxidising agent and a strong acid that is fully ionised into hydronium (${H_3}{O^ + }$) and nitrate ($N{O_3}^ -$)ions in aqueous solution (one that acts as electron acceptor in oxidation-reduction reactions).
Properties:
$HN{O_3}$ is a strong oxidizer.
N's oxidation state shifts from ${N^{ + 5}}to{N^{ + 3}}$. The degree of oxidation is determined by:
Acid concentration
The greater the oxidation, the lower the acid concentration.
Nature of element
The more reactive an element is, the more oxidation it undergoes.

Note:
Nitric acid decomposes into a brownish yellow solution of water, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen. It is a potent oxidising agent and a strong acid that is fully ionised into hydronium (${H_3}{O^ + }$)and nitrate ($N{O_3}^ -$) ions in aqueous solution (one that acts as electron acceptor in oxidation-reduction reactions).