Final answer:
In Fe(II) - MnO4- titration, HNO3 is not used because it can oxidize Fe(II) to Fe(III) and Mn2+ to MnO2, disrupting the intended redox reaction option (a) and resulting in inaccurate titration results.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a titration involving Fe(II) and MnO4-, HNO3 is not used because it interferes with the redox reaction. This is due to HNO3 being a strong oxidizing agent that can react with Fe(II) (ferrous ion), oxidizing it to Fe(III) (ferric ion) independently of the permanganate.
Consequently, this would cause a side reaction, which affects the stoichiometry and accuracy of the titration. Furthermore, nitric acid can also oxidize Mn2+ to MnO2, which could introduce errors in the analysis when permanganate is the titrant as it disrupts the intended redox reaction.