Question

Give two chemical tests to distinguish between dilute nitric acid and dilute hydrochloric acid.

Answer 1

The two tests are:

1. Take an unknown acid and add a few drops of it to the silver nitrate solution. If the silver nitrate solution turns white due to formation of silver chloride, the acid is hydrochloric acid. If the solution remains clear, the acid is nitric acid.
2. The next test that can be used to distinguish nitric acid from hydrochloric acid is the reaction with metal. If the reaction with metal yields a brownish gas, the acid is nitric acid. If the gas has no colour and makes a pop when a lit match is held up to the gas jar, the gas is hydrogen and the acid is hydrochloric acid.