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What are balanced equation for #HNO_3# reacting with water and #HNO_2# reacting with water?

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1 Answer

Apr 8, 2017

We examine the reaction:

#HX + H_2O rightleftharpoons H_3O^(+) + X^(-)#

Explanation:

For #"nitric acid"#, #X^(-)=NO_3^-#, for #"nitrous acid"#, #X^(-)=NO_2^(-)#.

The equilibrium LIES FARTHER to the right in the case of nitric acid (almost quantitativley so).

This site quotes a #K_a# value for #HNO_2# of #4xx10^-4#, which characterizes nitrous acid as a moderately weak acid.

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