3 Hg2S + 22 HNO3 → 10 NO + 3 H2SO4 + 6 Hg(NO3)2 + 8 H2O
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
3 S-II - 24 e- → 3 SVI (oxidation)
10 NV + 30 e- → 10 NII (reduction)
6 HgI - 6 e- → 6 HgII (oxidation)
Hg2S is a reducing agent, HNO3 is an oxidizing agent, Hg2S is a reducing agent.
Reactants:
- Hg2S
- 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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