Oxidation of Carbon with Fuming of Nitric Acid
Demonstrations: Fuming Nitric Acid is added to a 5L RB flask. A lump of charcoal is heated to red hot with a Meker burner, and the charcoal is added to the flask.
C(s) + 4HNO3 → CO2(g) + 4NO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Oxidation, Carbon, Activation energy, Fuming Nitric Acid,
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Oxidizing liquids
- Corrosive to metals
- Acute toxicity- Inhalation, Dermal
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Flammability hazard
- Asphyxiation hazard
Effectiveness: Average
- Effects are clearly observable without guidance
- Medium effects are seen
- Some connection from demo to course material
- Contrast between systems behavior is clear
- Moderate failure rate
- Time to results is medium
Difficulty: High
- Coordinated and timed manipulations are required
- Multi-step procedures with varying results
- Reactions with toxic reagents and products
- Demos at non-standard conditions
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Hot gloves required
- Lab coat recommended
- Perform with working fume hood, outdoors, or with a working downdraft hood
- Open flames in use
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Perform on a heat and chemically resistant surface
- Perform in a well-ventilated hood
- Avoid exposure to toxic reagents
Class: Redox Reactions, Main Group Elements
Division: General, Inorganic Chemistry
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