Question

Explain the following:

Dilute nitric acid is generally considered a typical acid but not so in its reaction with metals.

Answer 1

1. Dilute nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$reacts with almost all metals except some noble metals like platinum$\left(\mathrm{Pt}\right)$, gold$\left(\mathrm{Au}\right)$, etC.
2. Forms different products depending upon the nature of the metal, the concentration of nitric acid, and temperature.
3. While reacting with metals it is not considered a typical acid because nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$is not only acid but also an oxidising agent and in these reactions, the oxidising nature of nitric acid is more dominant.