Question

Why Nitric Acid Is Stronger Than Nitrous Acid?

Answer 1

Nitric acid(${\text{HNO}}_3$) is more powerful than Nitrous acid(${\text{HNO}}_2$) because,

1. Nitric acid's(${\text{HNO}}_3$) conjugate base is more stable than Nitrous acid's(${\text{HNO}}_2$) conjugate base.
2. Nitric acid(${\text{HNO}}_3$) has an excessive negative charge on the three oxygen atoms, whereas Nitrous acid( ${\text{HNO}}_2$)has an excessive negative charge spread over two oxygen atoms.