Question

Assertion (A): Concentrated nitric acid is diluted by adding water slowly to acid with constant stirring.
Reason (R): Concentrated nitric acid is easily soluble in water.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

Always add acid to water, not the other way around, to avoid violent reactions due to the exothermic nature of dilution.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Assertion (A) is correct; concentrated nitric acid is diluted by adding water gradually with stirring to avoid strong reactions.
Reason (R) is also correct because nitric acid readily dissolves in water, however, it does not explain Assertion (A) properly. The slow addition mitigates the exothermic heat generated, not solubility. 
Thus, the correct response is option (2).