3(ii)
Study the reaction given below and answer the questions that follow:
NaNO3 + H2SO4 (Conc.) $\xrightarrow{\lt \space 200^{\circ}\text C}$ NaHSO4 + HNO3
(a) Give one reason for maintaining the temperature below 200°C.
(b) Why is concentrated Sulphuric acid used in the above reaction?
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(a) The temperature is maintained below 200°C because nitric acid decomposes at higher temperature to give nitrogen dioxide, water and oxygen.
4HNO3 ⟶ 4NO2 + 2H2O + O2
(b) Concentrated sulphuric acid is used because it is a non-volatile acid with a high boiling point. It displaces the more volatile nitric acid from sodium nitrate and does not distil over with nitric acid vapours.