Yes, nitric acid ($\text{HNO}_3$) is soluble in water.
Nitric acid is classified as a strong acid. When strong acids are introduced into water, they undergo complete dissociation, meaning they break apart into their constituent ions. As stated in the provided reference, "So when we have these strong acids they're going to dissociate 100 when we put them in water that means they're going to break apart into their ions." This high degree of dissociation is characteristic of substances that are highly soluble in water.
Therefore, "nitric acid $\text{hno}_3$ is going to be soluble."
Understanding Solubility
Solubility refers to the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in a solvent, forming a homogeneous solution. For ionic or highly polar compounds like strong acids, water is an excellent solvent due to its polar nature.
Here's a simple breakdown:
- Solute: Nitric Acid ($\text{HNO}_3$)
- Solvent: Water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$)
- Process: Dissociation (breaking into ions)
Why Does Nitric Acid Dissolve So Well?
Nitric acid reacts with water in a process called ionization:
$\text{HNO}_3\text{(aq)} + \text{H}_2\text{O(l)} \rightarrow \text{H}_3\text{O}^+\text{(aq)} + \text{NO}_3^-\text{(aq)}$
In this reaction, a proton ($\text{H}^+$) is transferred from the nitric acid molecule to a water molecule, forming a hydronium ion ($\text{H}_3\text{O}^+$) and a nitrate ion ($\text{NO}_3^-$). Because this process is essentially 100% complete in dilute aqueous solutions, nitric acid is considered infinitely soluble in water.
Key Takeaways
- Nitric acid is a strong acid.
- Strong acids dissociate completely in water.
- Complete dissociation leads to high solubility.
| Substance | Solubility in Water | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Nitric Acid | Highly Soluble | Strong acid; undergoes complete dissociation |
This high solubility allows nitric acid to be diluted to various concentrations for different applications in laboratories and industry.
