Question

Give a balanced chemical equation for the following:
Action of conc. nitric acid on sulphur.

Answer 1

Action of conc. nitric acid on sulphur:-

1. When conc. nitric is reacted with sulphur, it gives sulphuric acid, nitrogen dioxide, and water as its product.
2. Nitric acid oxidises the sulphur to form sulphuric acid.
3. Balanced chemical equation:- $\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulphur}\right)}{\mathrm{S}}+\underset{(\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{acid})}{6{\mathrm{HNO}}_3}\to \underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}+\underset{(\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{dioxide})}{6{\mathrm{NO}}_2}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}$

Final answer:- Nitric acid oxidises sulphur to form sulphuric acid- $\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulphur}\right)}{\mathrm{S}}+\underset{(\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{acid})}{6{\mathrm{HNO}}_3}\to \underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}+\underset{(\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{dioxide})}{6{\mathrm{NO}}_2}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}$