How is nitric acid supplied, and how does it react with sulfuric acid?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 29, 2015

HNO_3(aq) + H_2O(l) rarr H_3O^+ + NO_3^-

Explanation:

Concentrated nitric acid as supplied commercially has a density of 1.42 g*cm^(-3), and has a concentration of 15 mol*L^-1. It is commonly used as a nitrating agent in organic chemistry in that its reactions with sulfuric acid produces the electrophilic nitrating agent NO_2^+, according to the following equation:

H_2SO_4 + HNO_3 rarr NO_2^+ +HSO_4^- + H_2O

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