JEE Main · 2024 · Shift-IeasySALT-025

On reaction of Lead Sulphide with dilute nitric acid which of the following is not formed?

Salt Analysis · Class 12 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

On reaction of Lead Sulphide with dilute nitric acid which of the following is not formed?

Options
  1. a

    Lead nitrate

  2. b

    Sulphur

  3. c

    Nitric oxide

  4. d

    Nitrous oxide

Correct Answerd

Nitrous oxide

Detailed Solution

Step 1: Understand the reagents involved

The reaction involves Lead sulphide (\cePbS\ce{PbS}), which is an insoluble black precipitate, uniquely dissolving upon boiling aggressively with roughly 50% dilute nitric acid (\ceHNO3\ce{HNO3}).

Step 2: Recall the general reaction equation

Dilute nitric acid serves dually here. It acts as an acid (providing \ceH+\ce{H+}) and importantly as a formidable oxidizing agent. It precisely oxidizes the extremely low 2-2 state sulphide fundamentally into element zero-state Sulphur (\ceS\ce{S}), getting heavily reduced itself essentially into Nitric oxide (\ceNO\ce{NO} gas) in the balancing process.

\ce3PbS+8HNO3(dil)>3Pb(NO3)2+3Sv+2NO+4H2O\ce{3PbS + 8HNO3(dil) -> 3Pb(NO3)2 + 3S v + 2NO ^ + 4H2O}

Step 3: Analyze the products

From the balanced chemical reaction, the products structurally are:

  1. \cePb(NO3)2\ce{Pb(NO3)2} (Lead nitrate)
  2. \ceS\ce{S} (Elemental Sulphur, pale yellow sponge)
  3. \ceNO\ce{NO} (Nitric oxide gas, colorless but turns brown entering air as \ceNO2\ce{NO2})
  4. \ceH2O\ce{H2O} (Water)

Step 4: Check against given options

(a) Lead nitrate is formed. (b) Sulphur is formed. (c) Nitric oxide is formed. (d) Nitrous oxide (\ceN2O\ce{N2O}) is absolutely not formed. \ceN2O\ce{N2O} normally arises from reacting excessively dilute \ceHNO3\ce{HNO3} actively with metals like Zinc.

Step 5: Conclusion

Nitrous oxide (d) is not formed.

Key Points to Remember:

  • Any black metal sulphide belonging to Group II (except notably \ceHgS\ce{HgS}) robustly dissolves aggressively in warm dilute \ceHNO3\ce{HNO3}.
  • The byproduct heavily features elemental Sulphur (\ceS\ce{S}) and colorless Nitric oxide (\ceNO\ce{NO}) gas.
  • Concentrated \ceHNO3\ce{HNO3} conversely oxidizes sulphides terminally into fully oxidized soluble sulphates (\ceSO42\ce{SO4^{2-}}), generating brown \ceNO2\ce{NO2} gas.

Practice this question with progress tracking

Want timed practice with adaptive difficulty? Solve this question (and hundreds more from Salt Analysis) inside The Crucible, our adaptive practice platform.