Final answer:
Nitric Acid was not used in the lab because it is a strong oxidizing agent and highly reactive with organic compounds, posing safety risks like burns and damaging reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two reasons why Nitric Acid was not used in the lab are because it is a strong oxidizing agent and it is highly reactive with organic compounds. Nitric acid (HNO3) is known for its reactivity and ability to cause violent reactions when it comes into contact with many organic materials. This reactivity is due to its oxidizing properties, which means it can donate oxygen to other substances, often resulting in combustion or explosion.
In addition, the corrosive nature of nitric acid poses significant safety risks. When handling nitric acid, there's a danger of it causing burns on contact with skin or damaging equipment if not handled with appropriate safety measures. These properties make nitric acid a substance that must be used with extreme caution in the laboratory, especially when other, less hazardous alternatives are available for a given experiment.