Question

Nitric acid and hydrogen chloride gas can be prepared in the laboratory by heating sodium nitrate and sodium chloride, respectively with concentrated sulphuric acid.
Which property of concentrated sulphuric acid

(H_{2} {S O}_{4})

makes it particularly suitable for the preparation of nitric acid and hydrogen chloride?

Accepted Answer

Concentrated $H_{2} S O_{4}$ works as drying agent in the process of $H C l$ and $H N O_{3}$ . Concentrated sulphuric acid has a very strong affinity for water. It is sometimes used as a drying agent and can be used to dehydrate (chemically remove water from) many compounds, e.g. carbohydrates. Sulphuric acid reacts with water to form hydrates with distinct properties.

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