Nitric acid acts as an oxidising agent while nitrous acid can act both as an oxidising as well as reducing agent ?

Explanation

In case of nitric acid, nitrogen is in maximum oxidation state of +5 and therefore, cannot be further oxidized. So, `HNO_(3)` acts as an oxidizing agent only.
On the other hand, N is `HNO_(2)` is in +3 oxidation state and therefore, can undergo either oxidation or reduction. So, `HNO_(2)` acts both as an oxidizing as well as reducing agent.