Chapter 17, Problem 18RORR

The Ostwald process for the commercial production of nitric acid involves the following three steps:

${\text{4NH}}_{\text{3}}\left(g\right)+{\text{5O}}_{\text{2}}(g)\to \text{4NO}\left(g\right)+{\text{6H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(g\right)$

$\text{2NO}\left(g\right)+{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)\to {\text{2NO}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)$

${\text{3NO}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)+{\text{ H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(l\right)\to {\text{2HNO}}_{\text{3}}\text{,}(aq)+\text{ NO}\left(g\right)$

a. Which reactions in the Ostwald process are oxidation–reduction reactions?

b. Identify each oxidizing agent and reducing agent.