Read the following passage and answer the questions.Sohan went door t...
Aqua Regia is a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and concentrated HCl. It is used for dissolution of gold.
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Read the following passage and answer the questions.Sohan went door t...
Answer:
Introduction:
In the given passage, Sohan, posing as a goldsmith, deceived an unsuspecting lady by promising to restore the shine of her old and dull gold bangles. However, he used a solution that not only made the bangles sparkle but also drastically reduced their weight. The lady was left disappointed and Sohan quickly retreated after a futile argument.
Dissolution of Gold:
The solution used by Sohan to dissolve gold is aqua regia.
Explanation:
1. Dissolving Gold:
- Aqua regia is a highly corrosive mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl).
- It is called "aqua regia," which means "royal water," because it can dissolve noble metals like gold and platinum.
2. Composition of Aqua Regia:
- Aqua regia is prepared by mixing concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid in a specific ratio, usually 1:3 or 1:4.
- The mixture combines the oxidizing properties of nitric acid with the chloride ions from hydrochloric acid, creating a potent solvent.
3. Dissolving Gold with Aqua Regia:
- Gold is a noble metal, which means it is resistant to corrosion or oxidation by most acids.
- However, aqua regia is capable of dissolving gold due to the presence of both nitric acid and hydrochloric acid.
- The nitric acid in aqua regia acts as an oxidizing agent, converting metallic gold (Au) into soluble gold ions (Au3+).
- The hydrochloric acid provides chloride ions (Cl-) that form complexes with the gold ions, preventing them from precipitating and keeping them in solution.
Conclusion:
In the given passage, Sohan used aqua regia to dissolve the gold bangles, which resulted in their sparkling appearance but also caused a significant reduction in their weight. Aqua regia is a powerful solvent due to the combination of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid, enabling it to dissolve noble metals like gold.
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