Question

Study the reaction given below and answer the questions that follow:

\[\ce{NaNO3 + \underset{Conc.}{H2SO4} ->[< 200° C][]NaHSO4 + HNO3}\]

Why is concentrated Sulphuric acid used in the above reaction?

Answer 1

• Non-volatile (does not evaporate easily).
• A stronger acid than nitric acid.
• It displaces the more volatile nitric acid from sodium nitrate.
• It helps in the easy liberation of HNO₃ as a vapour.