Does zinc produce hydrogen with nitric acid?

Answer 1

Zinc does not produce hydrogen when it reacts with nitric acid; instead, it forms zinc nitrate and nitrogen oxides, such as nitrogen dioxide, depending on the concentration of the acid. This is because nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent that inhibits hydrogen gas production. In dilute nitric acid, zinc can produce some hydrogen, but primarily, the reaction leads to the formation of nitrogen oxides and zinc salts.