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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
Assertion (A) : Concentrated nitric acid is diluted by adding water slowly to acid with constant stirring. Reason (R) : Concentrated nitric acid is easily soluble in water.
  1. (a) Both, Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. (b) Both, Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. (c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 31/4/1 Q18
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:45 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

The correct procedure is to add acid slowly to water (not water to acid) with constant stirring, as dissolving acid in water is highly exothermic. Thus, Assertion (A) is false. Concentrated nitric acid is indeed soluble in water, so Reason (R) is true.

Source: Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1

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Explanation

The key fact from the textbook is: "The acid must always be added slowly to water with constant stirring" — never water to acid. So the Assertion reverses this and is false. The Reason states nitric acid is soluble in water, which is true (all common mineral acids are water-soluble). Since A is false but R is true, the answer is (d). Watch out — examiners frequently test this dilution rule as it is a safety precaution explicitly highlighted in the textbook.

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