Nitric Acid Flashcards
what was nitric acid also known as
aqua fortis
define fixation of atmospheric nitrogen
the conversion of free atmospheric nitrogen into useful nitrgenous compounds in the soil
lab prep of nitric acid
potassium nitrate/ sodium nitrate with concentrated sulphuric acid
collection of nitric acid in lab prep
the acid vapours condense and are collected in water-cooled receiver ‘Y’
precautions of lab prep of nitric acid
- apparatus made of glass since acid vapours are corrosive
- HCl is not used since it being volatile, cannot displace another volatile acid
- temperature is maintained and controlled(apparatus damage, decomposition of nitric acid)
why is sulphuric acid used in lab prep of nitric acid
it is a strong non volatile acid, and can displace more volatile nitric acid from the salt
why is the molar ratio of reactants 1:1
even though sulphuric acid is dibasic in nature, only half of it is used in formation of acidic salt
why is temp above 200 degrees not used
- damage to glass
- decomposition of nitric acid
- formation of hard residual crust of corresponding sulphate
why is nitric acid from lab prep yellowish brown
due to decomposition of the acid. decomposition leads to formation of NO2, a reddish brown gas, which imparts colour to the acid
3 chambers of ostwald’s process
- catalytic chamber
- oxidation chamber
- absorption tower
ratio of reactants in catalytic chamber, ostwald’s process
ammonia: air is 1:10
products of ostwald’s process catalytic chamber
nitrogen oxide, steam, 21.5 K heat
temp of oxidation chamber, ostwald’s process
50 degrees
what happens in absorption tower of ostwald’s process
nitrogen dioxide is converted to nitric acid by absorption in water in the presence of excess air
why is higher ratio of air used in ostwald’s process
- air is used in all three main reactions
- only 21% of air is oxygen
why is heating done initially only in ostwald’s process
the reaction is exothermic. the heat evolved maintains the temperature of the reaction