Nitric Acid MCQs Concise Class-10 ICSE Chemistry Selina Solutions Chapter-10. We Provide Step by Step Answer of MCQs Questions of Exercise-10 for ICSE Class-10. The given Solutions is according to the Latest editions. Visit official Website CISCE for detail information about ICSE Board Class-10.

Nitric Acid MCQs Concise Class-10 ICSE Chemistry Selina Solutions Chapter-10

Board	ICSE
Book / Publication	Concise / Selina
Subject	Chemistry
Class	10th
Writer	Dr SP Singh
Chapter-10	Study of Compounds – Nitric Acid
Topics	MCQs
Edition	2025-2026

Solved MCQs on Nitric Acid

Page-174 (Choose the correct answer from the options given below).

Que-1: The nitrate salt which does not give a mixture of NO₂ and O₂ on heating is:

(a) AgNO₃
(b) KNO₃
(c) Cu(NO₃)₂
(d) Zn(NO₃)₂

Ans: (b) KNO₃
Hint: The alkali metal nitrates such as sodium or potassium nitrates when heated melts into colourless liquids which decompose on heating to give oxygen gas.
2KNO₃ → Δ 2KNO₃ + O₂​ ↑

Que-2: The chemical used in the brown ring test is:

(a) CuSO₄
(b) FeSO₄
(c) Fe₂(SO₄)₃
(d) ZnSO₄

Ans: (b) FeSO₄
Hint: In the brown ring test the conc. sulphuric acid being heavier settles down and the iron [II] sulphate layer remains above it resulting in formation of the brown ring at the junction.
6FeSO₄ + 3H₂SO₄ + 2HNO₃ (dil. ) ⟶ 3Fe₂(SO₄)₃ + 4H₂O +2NO
FeSO₄ + NO ⟶ FeSO₄.NO
[Nitroso Ferrous sulphate, a brown compound]

Que-3: Lead nitrate decomposes on heating to give:

(a) NO
(b) N₂O
(c) NO₂
(d) N₂O₅

Ans: (b) NO₂
Hint: Lead nitrate decomposes on heating to give lead oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.
2Pb(NO₃)₂  → Δ  2PbO + 4NO₂ + O₂

Que-4 In the laboratory preparation of nitric acid, nitre is heated with :

(a) conc. HCl
(b) conc. H₂SO₄
(c) dil. H₂SO₄
(d) conc. H₃PO₄

Ans: (b) conc. H₂SO₄
Hint: In the laboratory preparation of Nitric acid by distillation process, potassium nitrate (nitre) is heated with conc. sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄).
KNO₃[conc.] + H₂SO₄[conc.]  → (<200°C) KHSO₄[acid salt] + HNO₃

Que-5: Nitric acid is manufactured by :

(a) Bayer’s process
(b) Haber’s process
(c) Ostwald process
(d) Contact process

Ans: (c) Ostwald process
Hint: Nitric acid is manufactured by Ostwald process developed by a german chemist Ostwald, in 1914.

Que-6: The catalyst used in the manufacture of HNO₃ is :

(a) Pt
(b) V₂O₅
(c) Fe
(d) Pd

Ans: (d) Pt
Hint: The catalyst used in the manufacture of HNO₃ by Ostwald’s process is Platinum.

Que-7: Cold and dilute HNO₃ reacts with Cu to give :

(a) NO₂
(b) NO
(c) N₂
(d) O₂

Ans: (b) NO
Hint: Cold and dilute HNO₃ reacts with Copper and oxidises it to give Nitric oxide
3Cu + 8HNO₃ ⟶ 3Cu(NO₃)₂ + 4H₂O + 2NO

Que-8: The brown ring test is used for the detection of :

(a) CO₃^2-
(b) Cl^–
(c) NO₃^–
(d) SO₃^2-

Ans: (c) NO₃^–
Hint: The brown ring test is a qualitative test used to detect the presence of nitrate ions (NO₃^–) in a solution. A brown ring forms at the junction of the two liquids if nitrate ions are present.

Que-9: Sulphur reacts with conc. HNO₃ to give :

(a) SO₂
(b) H₂
(c) H₂SO₄
(d) H₂S

Ans: (c) H₂SO₄
Hint: Conc. Nitric acid reacts with non-metals like sulphur to give sulphuric acid and nitrogen dioxide.
S + 6HNO₃ ⟶ H₂SO₄ + 2H₂O + 6NO₂

Que-10: The solvent for NO is :

(a) Freshly prepared FeSO₄
(b) Fe₂(SO₄)₃
(c) FeCl₃
(d) FeCl₂

Ans: (a) Freshly prepared FeSO₄
Hint: The solvent for NO is freshly prepared FeSO₄, because upon exposure to the atmosphere, it is oxidised to ferric sulphate which will not give brown ring.

Que-11: The acid which can be used to etch designs on brassware is :

(a) HCl
(b) HNO₃
(c) H₂SO₄
(d) H₂CO₃

Ans: (b) HNO₃
Hint: Nitric acid (HNO₃) is used to etch designs on brassware because it acts as solvent for a large number of metals except noble metals.

Que-12: HNO₃ is kept in reagent bottles because it is :

(a) an oxidising agent
(b) a reducing agent
(c) hygroscopic in nature
(d) decompose in the presence of light

Ans: (d) decompose in the presence of light
Hint: HNO₃ decomposes in presence of sunlight even at room temperature and turn into yellow colour solution. To avoid the decomposition, nitric acid is normally stored in reagent bottles.

Que-13: The nitrate which does not leave any residue behind on heating is :

(a) NaNO₃
(b) NH₄NO₃
(c) AgNO₃
(d) Ca(NO₃)₂

Ans: (b) NH₄NO₃
Hint: Ammonium nitrate decomposes explosively leaving behind no residue.

Que-14: On heating zinc nitrate, the products formed are zinc oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. Zinc oxide is :

P – a black solid
Q – brown when hot, yellow when cold
R – yellow when hot, white when cold
Which of the following is true ?
(a) Only P
(b) Only Q
(c) Only R
(d) Both Q and R

Ans: (c) Only R

The following questions are Assertion-Reason based questions. Choose the answer based on the codes given below.
1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

Que-15: 

Assertion (A): KNO₃ and conc. H₂SO₄ are the reactants for the preparation of nitric acid.
Reason (R): Conc. H₂SO₄ being a non volatile acid is required to prepare volatile acids.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (a) (1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explain Why: In the laboratory preparation of Nitric acid, nitric acid is obtained by distilling the reactants, conc. sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate. Hence, the assertion is true.
Sulphuric acid is a non-volatile acid and produces volatile nitric acid on reacting with potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. Hence, the reason is true.
Reason (R) explains why conc. sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate are used as reactants for the preparation of nitric acid. Hence, reason is a correct explanation of assertion.

Que-16: 

Assertion (A): Nitric acid prepared in the laboratory is yellow in colour.
Reason (R): Brown gas is used in its preparation.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (c) (3) A is true but R is false.
Explain Why: Pure nitric acid is colourless but the acid obtained in the laboratory is slightly yellow. The yellow colour is due to dissolution of reddish brown coloured nitrogen dioxide gas in the acid. This gas is produced due to the thermal decomposition of a portion of nitric acid. Hence, the assertion is true.
Brown gas is not used in nitric acid preparation but brown coloured nitrogen dioxide gas is produced due to the thermal decomposition of portion of nitric acid. Hence, the reason is false.

Que-17: 

Assertion (A): Catalytic oxidation of Ammonia does not require any external heat in Ostwald process.
Reason (R): Catalytic oxidation of ammonia is an endothermic process.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (c) (3) A is true but R is false.
Explain Why: Catalytic oxidation of Ammonia by Ostwald’s process does not require any external heat because the reaction itself is exothermic and the heat evolved maintains the temperature of the catalytic chamber. Hence, the assertion is true.
Catalytic oxidation of ammonia is an exothermic process. Therefore, the reason is false.

Que-18: 

Assertion (A): The yellow colour of nitric acid is removed by using carbon dioxide gas or dry air.
Reason (R): Carbon dioxide gas or dry air drives away NO₂ gas from the warm nitric acid.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (a) (1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explain Why: The yellow colour of nitric acid is removed by bubbling carbon dioxide gas or dry air into it. Hence, the assertion is true.
The yellow colour will disappear because carbon dioxide gas or dry air drive out NO₂ gas from the warm nitric acid. Hence, the reason is true.
Reason explains how the use of carbon dioxide and dry air turn yellow colour nitric acid into a colourless compound. Hence, reason is a correct explanation of assertion.

Que-19: 

Assertion (A): Nitric acid reacts with NaOH/KOH to form salt and water.
Reason (R): Alkalies react with acids to form salt and water.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (a) (1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explain Why: Nitric acid reacts with alkalies like NaOH/KOH and neutralises it to form salt and water. Hence, the assertion is true.
NaOH + HNO₃ ⟶ NaNO₃ + 2H₂O
Alkalies react with acids to form salt and water. Such type of reactions are called as neutralisation reaction. Hence, the reason is true.
So, reason depicts the neutralisation reaction that takes place between Nitric acid and NaOH/KOH, it is the correct explanation of assertion.

Que-20: 

Assertion (A): Cold and dilute nitric acid oxidise metals to their nitrates and nitric oxide.
Reason (R): Hot and concentrated nitric acid liberates nitrogen dioxide.
(a) (1)
(b) (2)
(c) (3)
(d) (4)

Ans: (b) (2) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explain Why: Cold and dilute nitric acid oxidises metals to their nitrates and nitric oxide. Hence, the assertion is true.
3Cu + 8HNO₃ ⟶ 3Cu(NO₃)₂ + 4H₂O + 2NO
Hot dilute nitric acid or concentrated nitric acid liberates nitrogen dioxide. Hence, the reason is true.
Cu + 4HNO₃ ⟶ Cu(NO₃)₂ + 2H₂O + 2NO₂
Whenever, reason doesn’t explain the action of Cold and dilute nitric acid on metals. So, it is not the correct explanation of assertion.

—:  End of Study of Compounds – Nitric Acid MCQs Concise Class-10 ICSE Chemistry Selina Solutions : –

Return to:- Concise Selina Chemistry for ICSE Class-10 Solutions
Please Share with Your Friends if Helpful
Thanks