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What happens when copper reacts with dilute and concentrated nitric acids
Accepted Answer
Copper reacts differently with dilute and concentrated nitric acid due to the varying oxidizing power of the acid:
Dilute Nitric Acid: Copper reacts with dilute nitric acid to produce copper(II) nitrate ($Cu(NO_3)_2$), nitric oxide ($NO$) gas, and water. The nitric acid acts as an oxidizing agent, oxidizing copper to copper(II) ions. The reaction is:
3Cu(s) + 8HNO₃(aq) → 3Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2NO(g) + 4H₂O(l)
Concentrated Nitric Acid: In concentrated nitric acid, copper reacts to produce copper(II) nitrate, nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) gas, and water. The concentrated acid is a stronger oxidizing agent, leading to the formation of nitrogen dioxide instead of nitric oxide. The reaction is:
Cu(s) + 4HNO₃(aq) → Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2NO₂(g) + 2H₂O(l)
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