Question

(i) What is special feature of the apparatus that is used in the laboratory preparation of nitric acid?
(ii) Why should the temperature of the reaction mixture of nitric acid not be allowed to rise above 200°C?

Answer 1

(i) The apparatus used for the laboratory manufacture of nitric acid is made up entirely of glass.
(ii) The temperature of the reaction mixture for the formation of nitric acid must be restricted to 200^o​C for the following reasons:

• To prevent the decomposition of nitric acid to nitrogen dioxide and water
• To prevent the formation of potassium sulphate or sodium sulphate, which are very hard to clean from glass vessels
• To prevent the breaking of the glass container in which the reaction is carried out