Since NO2+ is highly reactive, why does it not just react with the water just formed, going back to nitric acid? (There are two correct answers)

- The water is in this case a solute in a strong acid and thus is not available to react.

- Water is a poor nucleophile.

- Steric hindrance prevents this reaction.

- It can react if the water content is above 35%.

(Could you also explain why 2 of these are correct? Thank you!)

H+ It so happens that mixing sulfuric and nitric acids produces NO2+, called nitronium ion. This comes about through protonation of nitric acid (!), followed by dehydration