The treatment of galena with HNO3 produces a gas that is
Correct Answer :
paramagnetic
colorless
Solution :
The correct options are paramagnetic and colorless.
Step 1: Understand the reaction of galena with nitric acid
Galena is lead(II) sulfide, having the chemical formula . When galena is treated with dilute nitric acid (), it undergoes an oxidation-reduction reaction to produce lead(II) nitrate, sulfur, nitric oxide () gas, and water.
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:
Thus, the gas produced during this reaction is nitric oxide ().
Step 2: Analyze the properties of Nitric Oxide () gas
1. Color: Nitric oxide () is a colorless gas in its gaseous state.
2. Magnetic Property: The total number of valence electrons in is 5 (from Nitrogen) + 6 (from Oxygen) = 11 electrons. Because it contains an odd number of electrons, it has one unpaired electron. Molecules with unpaired electrons display paramagnetic behavior. Therefore, gas is paramagnetic.
3. Geometry: Being a diatomic molecule, its geometry is linear, not bent.
4. Acid-Base Nature: is a neutral oxide, not an acidic oxide.
Conclusion:
The gas produced is , which is both paramagnetic and colorless.
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