Do non-metals react with acid?

Generally, the non-metals do not react with dilute acids. This is because when a substance reacts with acids, it provides electrons to the H+ ions produced by the acids. Non-metals are themselves acceptors of electrons so there is no way they can donate electrons to the hydrogen ion of the acid. read more

Non metals do not react with acids usually a metal reacts with acid to produce hydrogen gas while this is not observed with non metals, this is because metals are electro-positive . therefore metals can give electrons to hydrogen which is liberated as hydrogen gas while is not observed with non metals. read more

Nitric acid, a strongly oxidizing acid, will oxidize carbon to carbon dioxide. It will oxidize sulfur and phoshorous too, forming sulfuric and phosphoric acids. At the other extreme, hydrobromic (HBr) and hydriodic (HI) acids have reducing properties. Chlorine will form hydrochloric acid with either HBr or HI, displacing the heavier halogen. read more