Question

i) What are the products obtained when copper reacts with concentrated nitric acid? 

ii) Name two important xenon fluorides.

iii) Interhalogen compounds are compounds formed by the combination of different halogen atoms. Which are more reactive, halogens or interhalogen compounds? Give reason.

Answer 1

i) Copper reacts with concentrated nitric acid to give copper nitrate and nitrogen dioxide.

Cu + 4HNO_3(conc) + Cu(NO₃)₂ + 2NO₂ + 2H₂O

ii) Two important xenon fluorides are XeF₂ and XeF₄.

iii) Interhalogen compounds are more reactive than halogens (except fluorine). Because, the bond betweendifferent halogen atoms (X – X’) in interhalogen compounds is weakerthan the bond between similar halogen atoms. Due to the difference in size and electronegativity. The F – F bond is the weakest due to interelectronic repulsion.