Q. What are the Physical Properties of Nitric Acid?

Ans.

Nitric acid (HNO₃) may be prepared by heating sodium nitrate with sulfuric acid:

NaNO₃ + H₂SO₄ --> HNO3 + NaHSO₄

The following animation illustrates this synthesis of nitric acid:

Note: during this synthesis, all glass must be used in the equipment because nitric acid dissolves cork and rubber.

-> Physical Properties of Nitric Acid

Nitric acid has a density of 1.4 g/cm3. It is colorless. Old samples are often yellow because of decomposition. As the yellow/brown NO2 gas forms due to exposure to light, nitric acid is usually kept in brown bottles.

4HNO₃ --> 4NO₂ + O₂ + 2H₂O