WAEC - Chemistry (2005 - No. 15)
HNO3 does not usually react with metals to liberate hydrogen because HNO3 is
a strong acid
a corrosive acid
an oxidizing agent
a nitrating agent
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This is because nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent. When it reacts with metals it tends to oxidize the metal but the hydrogen in it does not get reduced to hydrogen gas.