Return to site

I/GCSE Chemistry- Nitric Acid

Creation of nitric acid

August 11, 2021

In this I/GCSE Chemistry blog post, we will be looking at how nitric acid is created, let's go!

MANUFACTURE OF NITRIC ACID

  • All you need to recall of this process is:

          catalytic oxidation                  +air + water

ammonia       →      nitrogen monoxide    →    nitric acid

PROPERTIES OF NITRIC ACID

  • It is a dangerous acid.
  • It reacts with ammonia to make ammonium nitrate - an important fertiliser.
  • When it is dilute, it has reactions typical of other acids like hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. 

Characteristics of acid:

  • Acids turn blue litmus red, due to the presence of hydrogen ions (H+) in their solutions.
  • They react with bases and alkalis to give a salt and water. 
  • They react with carbonates. There is an effervescence of carbon dioxide which can be tested with limewater.

CONCENTRATED NITRIC ACID

  • In addition to being an acid it is also an oxidising agent
  • For instance it will react with copper, oxidising it to copper(II) nitrate. 
  • It will form passive layers on many metals. 
  • These are layers of oxide, which protect the metal underneath from further attack.

That is all for this post!

References:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fismailtahasildar.blogspot.com%2F2018%2F03%2Fparamedical-courses-chemistry-notes.html&psig=AOvVaw0xD5ZeHsa218GRN64Mi4Z3&ust=1628744699118000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMjr0IaZqPICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chemicals.co.uk%2Fnitric-acid&psig=AOvVaw0yWXgXjEabO09aEmc8egeV&ust=1628744776424000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIDd3KKZqPICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ