6 Hg + 16 HNO3 → 3 Hg2(NO3)4 + 4 NO + 8 H2O
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
4 NV + 12 e- → 4 NII (reduction)
6 Hg0 - 12 e- → 6 HgII (oxidation)
HNO3 is an oxidizing agent, Hg is a reducing agent.
Reactants:
- Hg
- 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.]
Products: