Lead dissolves most readily in

Options

A. acetic acid
B. sulphuric acid
C. nitric acid
D. hydrochloic acid

Answer

To determine in which solution lead (Pb) dissolves most readily, we can analyze the reactivity of lead with different acids.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Chemical Properties of Lead (Pb)**:
- Lead is a heavy metal that can react with certain acids to form soluble salts.

2. **Consider Different Acids**:
- The question suggests considering various acids such as nitric acid (HNO3), acetic acid (CH3COOH), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

3. **Reactivity of Lead with Nitric Acid (HNO3)**:
- Lead reacts with nitric acid to form lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2), which is soluble in water. The reaction can be summarized as:
\[ \text{Pb} + 4\text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Pb(NO}_3)_2 + 2\text{H}_2 \]
- This shows that lead dissolves readily in nitric acid.

4. **Reactivity of Lead with Other Acids**:
- **Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)**: This is a weak acid and does not effectively dissolve lead.
- **Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)**: Lead does not dissolve well in sulfuric acid; it tends to float on the surface due to the formation of an insoluble lead sulfate (PbSO4).
- **Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)**: Similar to sulfuric acid, lead does not dissolve well in hydrochloric acid and may also float due to the formation of lead chloride (PbCl2), which is not very soluble.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Among the options considered, lead dissolves most readily in nitric acid (HNO3), forming a soluble lead nitrate.

### Final Answer:
Lead dissolves most readily in **HNO3 (Nitric Acid)**.

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