Mg + 2 HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
2 HI + 2 e- → 2 H0 (reduction)
Mg0 - 2 e- → MgII (oxidation)
HNO3 is an oxidizing agent, Mg is a reducing agent.
Reactants:
- Mg
- 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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