Although nitric acid acts only as an oxidising agent, nitrous acid acts both as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent- why ?

Explanation

In `HNO_(3)` , oxidation state of N + 5 which is the highest oxidation state of N . But in case of `HNO_(2)` oxidation state of N is +3 for which it can expand its oxidation number to get oxidised and it can also decrease its oxidation number . Thus , `HNO_(3)` only decrease its oxidation number by acting as an oxdising agent as an oxidising agent in reaction wherease `HNO_(2)` can undergo both oxidation and reduction , acting as reducing and oxidising agent respectively.