A non-metal A which is the largest constituent of air, when heated with H2 in 1:3 ratio in the presence of catalyst (Fe) gives a gas B. On heating with O2, it gives an oxide C. If this oxide is passed into water in the presence of air, it gives an acid D which acts as a strong oxidizing agent.
(i) Identify A, B, C and D.
(ii) To which group of the periodic table, does this non-metal belongs?
The non-metal which is the largest constituent of air is Nitrogen.
When nitrogen is heated with hydrogen in the ratio of 1:3 in presence of iron as a catalyst we get ammonia as the product. This process of ammonia production is called as Haber’s process. The reaction is as follows:
N2 + 3H2→ 2NH3
When nitrogen is heated with oxygen, it gives nitrogen dioxide. The reaction is as follows:
N2 + 2O2→ 2NO2
When nitrogen dioxide is dissolved in water, it gives nitric acid which is a strong oxidizing agent. The reaction is as follows:
3NO2 + H2O → 2HNO3 + NO
(i) Therefore from above reactions we can easily state that,
A is Nitrogen
B is Ammonia
C is Nitrogen Dioxide
D is Nitric Acid
(ii) The non-metal that is nitrogen belongs to the group 15 of the periodic table.