Why is Lassaigne's extract strictly boiled with concentrated nitric acid () before testing for halog — Practical Organic Chemistry and Purification Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Boiling with $HNO_3$ decomposes $NaCN$ and $Na_2S$ into volatile $HCN$ and $H_2S$. Otherwise, they would interfere by forming white $AgCN$ and black $Ag_2S$ precipitates.