Question

Name the products formed when a mixture of carbon and conc. nitric acid is heated.

Answer 1

1. Oxidising agent definition: An oxidising agent is define as the compound which oxidises the other compound present in the reaction and itself get reduced during the reaction.
2. Nitric acid (${\mathbf{HNO}}_{\mathbf{3}}$) is considered as a strong oxidising agent which oxidises the other reactant present in the reaction to form product.
3. When a mixture of Carbon ($\mathbf{C}$) and concentrated Nitric acid (${\mathbf{HNO}}_{\mathbf{3}}$) is heated Carbon dioxide (${\mathbf{CO}}_{\mathbf{2}}$) is formed due to oxidation of carbon ($\mathbf{C}$) and Nitric acid (${\mathbf{HNO}}_{\mathbf{3}}$) reduced to form water and Nitrogen dioxide (${\mathbf{NO}}_{\mathbf{2}}$).
4. The reaction involved is shown below.
   $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{C}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+4{\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{Nitrogen} \\ \mathrm{acid}\mathrm{dioxide}\mathrm{dioxide} \end{gathered}$$
5. Therefore, the products formed when a mixture of carbon and conc. Nitric acid is heated are Carbon dioxide, water and Nitrogen dioxide.