Study of Compounds — Nitric Acid — Question 12

The high concentration of H⁺ ions imparts acidic nature to dilute Nitric Acid (HNO₃), hence it turns moist neutral litmus red.

HNO₃ + H₂O ⇌ H₃O¹⁺ + NO₃^1-

$\text{HNO}_3 \xrightleftharpoons {\text{H}_2\text{O}} \text{H}^{1+} + \text{NO}_3^{1-}$

H⁺ + H₂O ⇌ H₃O¹⁺