Question icon
Grade 12th PassInorganic Chemistry

reaction of nitric acid with metals

Profile image of shipra Bahl
14 Years agoGrade 12th Pass
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Rahul Kumar
14 Years ago

Nitric acid reacts with most metals. This characteristic has made it a common agent to be used in acid tests.

Very dilute nitric acid acts as a typical acid to react with active metals. For example, strongly electropositive metals, such as magnesium react with nitric acid as with other acids, reducing hydrogen.

Mg + 2 H+ → Mg2+ + H2