Nitric acid is an oxidising agent and reacts with PbO but it does not react with `PbO_(2)`. Explain why?

Explanation

Since in `PbO_(2)` Pb is in the maximum oxidation state of +4 and in `HNO_(3)` N is in the maximum oxidation state of +5 therefore none of them can oxidation each other
in other words `PbO_(2)` is passive towards `HNO_(3.)` and hence no reaction occurs in contrast PbO being basic undergoes an acid base reaction to form `Pb(NO_(3))_(2)` and `H_(2)O PbO+2 HNO_(3) rarr Pb(NO_(3))_(2)+H_(2)O`