Question

Please choose the products for the reaction in which HNO₂ reacts with water:

HNO₂ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇌ H₂NO₂⁺ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq)
HNO₂ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇌ HNO₃ (aq) + H⁺ (aq)
HNO₂ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇌ NO₂⁻ (aq) + H₃O⁺ (aq)
HNO₂ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇌ H₃O⁺ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq)

Answer 1

Nitrous acid (HNO₂) reacts with water to form hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) and nitrite ions (NO₂⁻). This reaction is characteristic of a weak acid dissociating in water.

Step-by-step explanation:

When nitrous acid (HNO₂) reacts with water, it behaves as a weak acid and donates a hydrogen ion to the water molecule, producing hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) and nitrite ions (NO₂⁻). Thus, the correct products for the reaction of HNO₂ with water are as follows:

HNO₂ (aq) + H₂O (l) ⇌ H₃O⁺ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq)

This is consistent with the behavior of weak acids in water where the acid partially dissociates to form the hydronium ion and the conjugate base of the acid (in this case, the nitrite ion).