Copper does not react with dilute nitric acid because it is less reactive compared to magnesium, manganese, aluminum, zinc, and iron. The lack of bubbles and unchanged temperature during the reaction with copper confirm that it does not react with dilute nitric acid.
Why does copper not react with dilute nitric acid, and what observations support this?
Share
Copper does not react with dilute nitric acid due to the formation of a protective oxide layer on its surface. This oxide layer prevents the acid from further oxidizing the metal. When copper is initially added to dilute nitric acid, a reaction occurs, but it quickly stops as the oxide layer forms. The characteristic greenish color of copper nitrate solution may be observed initially, but the absence of further effervescence or gas evolution indicates that the reaction has ceased. The protective oxide layer on copper prevents it from undergoing the typical acid-metal reaction seen with more reactive metals.