Question

The acid which cannot act as an oxidising agent is ______.

Options

• Conc. H₂SO₄

• Conc. HNO₃

• Conc. HCl

Answer 1

The acid which cannot act as an oxidising agent is Conc. HCl.

Explanation:

Concentrated HNO₃ and concentrated H₂SO₄ are strong oxidising agents because their central atoms (Nitrogen and Sulphur) are in their highest possible oxidation states and readily accept electrons to get reduced. In contrast, concentrated Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a hydracid that lacks oxygen and cannot act as an oxidising agent. Instead, the chloride ion (Cl⁻) in HCl is already in its lowest oxidation state, meaning it can only lose electrons, giving HCl mild reducing properties rather than oxidising capabilities.