Nitric acid's property?

Question

I would like to know what characteristic or properties that nitric acid have that makes it a strong oxidising agent. Where only dilute nitric acid can be use to react with metals to release hydrogen gas...?

Answer 1

Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent because it can give up oxygen in a reaction. Generation of hydrogen gas probably occurs through displacement of hydrogen with oxygen.

Concentrated nitric acid forms explosive peroxides with too many things to list. I gained much more respect for it when I worked in a lab and a chemist stored 50% nitric acid for washing in an amber bottle. Approximately 9 hours after making the solution, the bottle exploded. The cap went through the suspended ceiling, volumetric flasks within a 6 foot radius had the necks sheared off at the top of the bulb, and it threw pieces of glass 30 feet and sprayed everything within about 10 feet with nitric acid.

We ultimately concluded that the acid extracted iron out of the glass (iron salts are normally the source of amber glass coloration) and formed exlosive peroxides and detonated. Fortunately, The maximum amount of iron that could be extracted was in mgs and the explosion happened when the lab was empty.

Store nitric acid only in clear pyrex and don't play with it.

Answer 2

Nitric acid is a very powerful oxidizing agent, and the reactions of nitric acid with compounds such as cyanides, carbides, and metallic powders can be explosive. Reactions of nitric acid with many organic compounds, such as turpentine, are violent and hypergolic (i.e., self-igniting).

Answer 3

concentrated will do it it will also oxidize your skin and that hurts like hell. it's one of the things you only do once.

if you draw the resonace structures you'll see where the power comes from

Answer 4

Burns like hell. I got some on me one time. It also turns your skin black due to the nitrates.

Answer 5

I don't know.