What gas is produced when copper(II) carbonate reacts with nitric acid?

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Multiple Choice

What gas is produced when copper(II) carbonate reacts with nitric acid?

Explanation:
When a carbonate reacts with an acid, carbon dioxide is released. Here, copper(II) carbonate reacts with nitric acid to form copper(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water. The balanced equation is CuCO3 + 2 HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + CO2 + H2O, so the gas evolving is CO2. Oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen dioxide aren’t produced in this typical carbonate–acid reaction; hydrogen would come from a metal reacting with acid, and nitrogen dioxide would come from other, less common nitration or decomposition pathways, not this carbonate–acid mix.

When a carbonate reacts with an acid, carbon dioxide is released. Here, copper(II) carbonate reacts with nitric acid to form copper(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water. The balanced equation is CuCO3 + 2 HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + CO2 + H2O, so the gas evolving is CO2. Oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen dioxide aren’t produced in this typical carbonate–acid reaction; hydrogen would come from a metal reacting with acid, and nitrogen dioxide would come from other, less common nitration or decomposition pathways, not this carbonate–acid mix.

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