When nitrous acid (HNO₂) dissociates in water (H₂O), the reaction that best captures this process is:
HNO₂ (aq.) + H₂O ↔ H₃O⁺ (aq.) + NO₂⁻ (aq.)
How does one know about HNO₂?
- The chemical designation for nitrous acid is HNO₂, and it is a monoprotic acid. Three elements—hydrogen(H), oxygen(O), and nitrogen(N), all compose it.
- It is highly fragile in nature and only occurs in solutions.
- It is employed to convert amines into diazonium salts.
Is HNO₂ a basic or an acid?
Acidity is assigned to nitrous acid (HNO₂). Once dissolved in water, it gives out H+ ions. Acid is a chemical that produces H+ ions in a water-based solution or gives the protons to other molecules.
Thus, HNO₂ is acid because it causes a mixture of water to contain H+ ions. In a 10 mM concentration, it possesses a pH of 2.67.
Learn more about nitrous acid here:
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