1.

Nitric acid acts only as an oxidising agent while nitrous acid acts both as oxidsing as well as a reducing agent why ?

Answer»

Solution :(i) `HNO_(3)`: Oxidation number of N is `HMO_(32)=+5`
Maximum oxidation mnumber of N=+5 Minimum oxidation number of N =-3
Since the oxidation number of N in `HNO_(3)` is maximum (+5) therefore it can only decrease by acceptin electrons hence `HNO_(3)` ACTS only as an oxidisingagent
(ii) `HNO_(2)=+3`
Maximum oxidation number of N = +5 Minimum oxidation number of N=-3
THUS the oxidation number of N cna tiher increase by losin elctons of can decrease its O.N by accepting ELECTONS therefoer `HNO_(2)` acts both as an oxidsig as well as a reducing agent


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