What will happen when metals such as Zn, Fe, Cu and Al react with nitric acid?

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Solution

Hydrogen gas is not evolved when metals such as Zn, Fe, Cu and Al react with nitric acid. Because $H N O_{3}$ is strong oxidising agent. It oxidises,H₂ gas to water and is itself reduced to oxides of (NO, N₂O and NO₂) nitrogen.

$3 F e (s)$ + $8 H N O_{3} (a q)$ → $3 F e ({N O}_{3})_{2} (a q)$ + $4 H_{2} O (l)$ + $2 N O (g)$

Iron Nitric acid (dil) Iron(II) nitrate Water Nitric oxide

$3 C u (s)$ + $8 H N O_{3} (a q)$ → $3 C u ({N O}_{3})_{2} (a q)$ + $4 H_{2} O (l)$ + $2 N O (g)$

Copper Nitric acid Copper nitrate Water Nitric oxide

Mg react with very dilute $H N O_{3}$ to evolve $H_{2}$ gas.

$M g (s)$ + $2 H N O_{3} (a q)$ → $M g ({N O}_{3})_{2} (a q)$ + $H_{2} (g)$

Magnesium Nitric acid (dil) Magnesium nitrate

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