5 S (s) + 6 HNO3 (aq) + 2 H2O (l) 3 N2 (g) + 5 H2SO4 (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

5 S0 - 30 e- 5 SVI (oxidation)

6 NV + 30 e- 6 N0 (reduction)

S is a reducing agent, HNO3 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • S
    • Names: Sulfur source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, S source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Sulphur source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Yellow solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • HNO3Nitric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Aqua fortis source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Spirit of niter source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Eau forte source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; 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.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • H2OWater, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27

Products:

  • N2
    • Names: Dinitrogen source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Nitrogen (compressed gas) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Nitrogen (liquified) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Odourless colourless compressed gas source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Odourless colourless extremely cold liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2SO4Sulfuric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Oil of vitriol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfuric acid, concentrated (> 51% and < 100%) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, H2SO4 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Odourless colourless oily hygroscopic liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02