text: how does nitric acid dissolve metal?   i will try to show this using copper as the metal in question:  cu_(s) + 4hno_3(aq) ---> cu(no_3)_2(aq) + 2no_2(g) + 2h_2o_(l)  where (s) is solid, (aq) is an aqueous solution, and (g) is gas.  when the nitric acid hits the copper, it generates (amongst other things), nitrogen dioxide, a noxious and insidious poison.