Hot concentrated nitric acid oxidises carbon, sulphur (S8) and white phosphorus (P4) (with NO2 as the reduction product) to, respectively,

JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3pn026

Hot concentrated nitric acid oxidises carbon, sulphur ( $S X_{8}$ ) and white phosphorus ( $P X_{4}$ ) (with $NO X_{2}$ as the reduction product) to, respectively,

Concentrated

HNO X_{3}

is a strong oxidant:

C + 4 HNO X_{3} CO X_{2} + 4 NO X_{2} + 2 H X_{2} O

;

S X_{8} + 48 HNO X_{3} 8 H X_{2} SO X_{4} + 48 NO X_{2} + 16 H X_{2} O

;

P X_{4} + 20 HNO X_{3} 4 H X_{3} PO X_{4} + 20 NO X_{2} + 4 H X_{2} O

. Each element goes to its highest common oxidation state.