Question

When zinc reacts with very dilute nitric acid it produces-

• A. $\mathrm{NO}$
• B. ${\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3$
• C. ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$
• D. ${\mathrm{H}}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is B

${\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3$

Explanation for correct option:

B. ${\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3$

Reaction of Zinc with Nitric acid:

• When Zinc$\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ metal reacts with very dilute Nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$, it produces Zinc nitrate $\left(\mathrm{Zn}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\right)$, Ammonium nitrate $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)$, and water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$.
• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$$\begin{gathered} 4\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+10{\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to 4\mathrm{Zn}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Zinc}\right)(\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{acid})(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{nitrate})(\mathrm{Ammonium}\mathrm{nitrate})\left(\mathrm{Water}\right) \end{gathered}$$

• Thus, when zinc reacts with very dilute nitric acid it produces is ${\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3$.

Explanation for incorrect options:

Since Ammonium nitrate $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)$ and Zinc nitrate $\left(\mathrm{Zn}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\right)$ are produced when zinc reacts with very dilute nitric acid. Thus options A, C, and D stand incorrect.

Hence, the correct option is B i.e. ${\mathrm{NH}}_4{\mathrm{NO}}_3$.