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Which of the following is true regarding nitric acid?(a) It is a strong reducing agent(b) It is a weak oxidizing agent(c) Its basicity is unity(d) It is non-planar in gaseous stateThis question was posed to me in an interview.My query is from P-Block Elements in chapter P-Block Elements of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer»

The CORRECT CHOICE is (b) It is a weak oxidizing agent

For explanation: NITRIC acid is a very weak reducing agent since it has a polar O – H bond. This breaks to donate the H^+ ion which is why it is a strong oxidizing agent and a strong acid. Since there is only ONE cleavable O – H bond, the basicity of nitric acid is unity (one HNO3 molecule can donate only 1 H^+ ion). It exists as a planar molecule in vapor phase.



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