HNO3 acts only as an oxidant whereas HNOz acts both as an oxidant and reductant. Why?
Ox. No. of N in HNO3 = +5 Ox No. of N in HNO2 = +3 Maximum oxidation numbers which N can show is = + 5 (∴ It has only 5 valance electrons 2S22P3) The Ox. No. of N in HNO3 is maximum and it can only decrease. Therefore HNO3 can act only as an oxidant. Minimum Ox. No. of N is -3. Thus HNO2 in which Ox. No. of N is +3 Can decrease as well as increase. Thus HNO2 can act as an oxidant as well as a reductant.
