Question

List the reason for the oxidizing properties of Nitric Acid.

Answer 1

Oxidizing agent:

• Oxidizing agents are known as those chemical species which have the tendency to oxidize other substances while themselves getting reduced.
• During the oxidation of any substance, they tend to lose electrons which causes an increase in the oxidation state of the substance.
• The oxidation state of an atom plays an important factor in deciding whether the element will act as an oxidation agent or reducing agent.

The reason for the oxidizing properties of Nitric Acid:

• In Nitric acid (${\mathrm{HNO}}_3$), the Nitrogen has an $+5$oxidation state, which is its highest oxidation state, so it can only get reduced and oxidize other molecules, and hence it acts as an oxidizing agent.
• Also, the Nitric acid when undergoes heating, decomposes to give nascent oxygen which is highly reactive and helps in describing the oxidizing character of the Nitric acid.
• Hence Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent.

Thus, the above mentioned are the list of the reason for the oxidizing properties of Nitric Acid.