Question:medium

Which of the following is a nitric acid anhydride?

Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
  • NO
  • $NO_2$
  • $N_2O_5$
  • $N_2O_3$
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Nitric acid anhydrides are oxides of nitrogen that react with water to form nitric acid. To determine which of the options is the nitric acid anhydride, let's consider the chemical reactions related to each nitrogen oxide and their resultant acids.

  1. NO (Nitric Oxide): It is not an anhydride and does not directly form any oxyacid upon reaction with water.
  2. NO_2 (Nitrogen Dioxide): Reacts with water to form a mixture of nitric acid (HNO_3) and nitrous acid (HNO_2):
    2NO_2 + H_2O \rightarrow HNO_2 + HNO_3
    This is an anhydride of both nitric and nitrous acids but not purely of nitric acid.
  3. N_2O_5 (Dinitrogen Pentoxide): Reacts with water to exclusively form nitric acid:
    N_2O_5 + H_2O \rightarrow 2HNO_3
    This clearly shows that N_2O_5 is a nitric acid anhydride.
  4. N_2O_3 (Dinitrogen Trioxide): Reacts with water to form nitrous acid:
    N_2O_3 + H_2O \rightarrow 2HNO_2
    As it forms nitrous acid, it is an anhydride of nitrous acid, not nitric acid.

Based on the reactions above, the correct answer is N_2O_5, as it exclusively forms nitric acid when reacted with water. Thus, N_2O_5 is the nitric acid anhydride.

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