10 Cr (s) + 6 HNO3 (aq) → 3 N2 (g) + 5 Cr2O3 (s) + 3 H2O (l)
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
6 NV + 30 e- → 6 N0 (reduction)
10 Cr0 - 30 e- → 10 CrIII (oxidation)
HNO3 is an oxidizing agent, Cr is a reducing agent.
Reactants:
- Cr
- HNO3 – Nitric acid
- Other names: Aqua fortis , Spirit of niter , Eau forte
- Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid ; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour ; Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution. Fuming nitric acid is concentrated nitric acid that contains dissolved nitrogen dioxide.]
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