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Why does dilute or concentrated nitric acid fail to react vigorously with aluminium metal?
AIt forms a passive protective oxide film on the surface
BAluminium is below hydrogen in the reactivity series
CNitric acid is too weak to attack any metal
DAluminium reacts only with alkalis, never with acids
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. It forms a passive protective oxide film on the surface
1. Aluminium is a reactive metal, so reactivity alone does not explain the lack of reaction.
2. Nitric acid renders aluminium passive.
3. This happens because a thin oxide film forms on the surface and blocks further attack.
4. So the cause is the passive protective oxide film.
Aluminium does react with HCl and dilute H2SO4, so option D is false.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 8 Periodic Classification of Elements "Metallurgy of Aluminium", p.123_
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