10 Fe + 36 HNO3 → 10 Fe(NO3)3 + 3 N2 + 18 H2O
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
6 NV + 30 e- → 6 N0 (reduction)
10 Fe0 - 30 e- → 10 FeIII (oxidation)
HNO3 is an oxidizing agent, Fe is a reducing agent.
Reactants:
- Fe
- 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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