Question

Care must be taken while diluting concentrated nitric acid with water. Why?

Answer 1

A highly exothermic reaction occurs when an acid or a base dissolves in water. Mixing concentrated nitric acid with water requires caution. Always slowly pour the acid into the water while stirring constantly. The heat produced when water is added to a concentrated acid can cause the mixture to splash out and hurt people's bums. Additionally, excessive local heating could cause the glass container to shatter.