Dissolving Copper with Nitric Acid 🧪

Nitric acid is one of the few acids that can react with copper. But oddly enough, it doesn't work well when the acid is pure. This is because of something called passivation where layer of oxidized copper forms and it covers the surface and protects the copper. To get it going, I have to add some water, which will dissolve the protective layer and let the acid attack it. This more dilute acid can completely shred all the metal until it completely dissolves.

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