Nitric acid is the most important oxi-acid formed by nitrogen. It is one of the major idustrial chemicals and is widely used. Nitric is manufactured by ostwald process in which catalytic oxidation of ammonia is done in following sequence as shown by reactions
`4 NH_(3) (g)+50_(2)(g) overset("Pt/Rh")underset("Catalyst")(rarr) 4 NO(g)+6 H_(2)O(g)` ...(i)
`2NO(g)+O_(2)(g) overset(1120 K)(rarr) 2NO_(2)(g)` ...(ii)
`3 NO_(2)(g)+H_(2)O(l) rarr 2 HNO_(3)(aq)+NO(g)` ...(iii)
In this process the aqueous nitric acid is obtained which can be concentrated by distillation to `~ 68.5%` by weight. Then concentration to 98% acid can be achieved by dehydration with concentrated sulfuric acid.
If 170 kg of `NH_(3)` is heated in excess of oxygen, then the volume of `H_(2)O(l)` produced in 1st reaction at STP is
`(rho_(H_(2)O)=1 g//mL)`
A. `33.6xx10^(3) L`
B. `270 L`
C. `224xx10^(3) L`
D. `170 L`
