N2O4 + H2O → HNO2 + HNO3
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
NIV - 1 e- → NV (oxidation)
NIV + e- → NIII (reduction)
N2O4 is both an oxidizing and a reducing agent (disproportionation (dismutation)).
Reactants:
Products:
- HNO2 – Nitrous acid , Hydroxidooxidonitrogen
- HNO3 – Nitric acid
- Other names: Aqua fortis , Spirit of niter , Eau forte
- Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid ; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour ; Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution. Fuming nitric acid is concentrated nitric acid that contains dissolved nitrogen dioxide.]