Au + 3 HNO3 + 4 HCl HAuCl4 + 3 NO2 + 3 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

Au0 - 3 e- AuIII (oxidation)

3 NV + 3 e- 3 NIV (reduction)

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

Reactants:

  • Au
    • Names: Gold source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Au source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Element 79 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Aurum source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
  • 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
  • HClChlorane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Hydrochloric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, M source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Uriatic acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Colorless, transparent liquid, fumes in air if concentrated source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to slightly yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • HAuCl4
    • Names: Chloroauric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Chlorauric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Orange-yellow needle-like crystals | hygroscopic source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • NO2Nitrogen dioxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Nitrogen(IV) oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Deutoxide of nitrogen source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Nitrogen peroxide source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Brown gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Reddish-brown gas or brown or yellow liquid with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Yellowish-brown liquid or reddish-brown gas (above 70°F) with a pungent, acrid odor. [Note: In solid form (below 15°F) it is found structurally as N2O4.] 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