Question

What is the equation for the reaction between nitric acid and conc. sulphuric acid?

Answer 1

It should create a hydrogen sulfide anion, a nitronium cation, and water.

Explanation:

If the sulfuric acid is concentrated enough, then we have the following reaction:

`HNO_3(aq)+overbrace(H_2SO_4(aq))^"concentrated"->HSO_4^(-)(aq)+overbrace(NO_2^+(aq))^"nitronium ion"+H_2O(l)`

In here, the sulfuric acid overpowers nitric acid, and so nitric acid acts as a Bronsted-Lowry base here, accepting that hydrogen ion, and then decomposing into water `(H_2O)` and a nitronium ion `(NO_2^+)`, as `H_2NO_3^(+)(aq)` is a really unstable ion.