Which gas is produced in the nitrate test when using sodium hydroxide and aluminium foil and warming?

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Multiple Choice

Which gas is produced in the nitrate test when using sodium hydroxide and aluminium foil and warming?

Explanation:
In this setup, nitrate ions are reduced in a strongly basic medium. Sodium hydroxide provides the high pH, and aluminium acts as a reducing agent when heated with the nitrate. The electrons flow from the aluminium to the nitrate, converting NO3− into ammonia (NH3), which then escapes as a gas. This is why ammonia is produced in this test—the conditions specifically drive the reduction of nitrate to ammonia, not to hydrogen, nitrogen oxides, or oxygen.

In this setup, nitrate ions are reduced in a strongly basic medium. Sodium hydroxide provides the high pH, and aluminium acts as a reducing agent when heated with the nitrate. The electrons flow from the aluminium to the nitrate, converting NO3− into ammonia (NH3), which then escapes as a gas. This is why ammonia is produced in this test—the conditions specifically drive the reduction of nitrate to ammonia, not to hydrogen, nitrogen oxides, or oxygen.

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