Why do we use dilute nitric acid for the preparation of hydrogen gas?

Dilute nitric acid is safe

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Concentrated nitric acid is strong oxidising agent

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Dilute nitric acid forms $N_{2} O$ instead of $H_{2}$

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Concentrated nitric acid forms $N H_{3}$

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Solution

The correct option is B
Concentrated nitric acid is strong oxidising agent

For preparing hydrogen gas with the help of nitric acid we do not use concentrated nitric acid. This is because concentrated nitric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent and can oxidize free hydrogen to water. To avoid such scenario we use dilute acid for hydrogen gas preparation.

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Similar questions

Q. Why Dilute nitric acid cannot be used in the preparation of hydrogen?

Q. Write balanced equations and name the products formed when:
(a) Sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to nitric acid
(b) cupric oxide reacts with nitric acid
(c) zinc reacts with dilute nitric acid
(d) concentrated nitric acid is heated

Q. Which of the acids dilute sulphuric, concentrated sulphuric, dilute nitric and concentrated nitric would you choose for the preparation of hydrogen? Explain why you would not use the acids you reject.

Nitric acid, even in its diluted form, is not used in the preparation of hydrogen from metals because metals on reaction with nitric acid can't replace the hydrogen atom.

Q. Cold, dilute nitric acid reacts with copper to form _____ (hydrogen, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide).

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