Multiple Choice
Which acid is commonly responsible for the dissolution of limestone (CaCO_3) in natural environments?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Acids
Multiple Choice
What is the correct chemical formula for nitrous acid?
A
H2SO3
B
H2SO4
C
HNO3
D
HNO2
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that nitrous acid is an oxyacid of nitrogen, where nitrogen is bonded to oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
Recall that the naming convention for oxyacids: acids ending with '-ous' correspond to the oxyanion ending with '-ite', while acids ending with '-ic' correspond to the oxyanion ending with '-ate'.
Identify that nitrous acid corresponds to the nitrite ion (NO\_2\^-), so the acid formula will be HNO\_2.
Compare the given options: H\_2SO\_3 (sulfurous acid), H\_2SO\_4 (sulfuric acid), HNO\_3 (nitric acid), and recognize that none except HNO\_2 matches nitrous acid.
Conclude that the correct chemical formula for nitrous acid is HNO\_2.
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