Nitric acid is yellow in colour due to the dissolution of nitrogen dioxide gas.
The nitrogen dioxide is obtained due to thermal dissociation of a portion of nitric acid:
$$\ce{4HNO3 -> 2H2O + 4NO2 + O2}$$
The nitrogen dioxide produced after dissociation dissolves in $\ce{HNO3}$ but what happens to the $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{O2}$ produced?
Shouldn't some $\ce{HNO3}$ dissolve in water as it is highly soluble? And if it does dissolve than what happens to the dissolved nitric acid?
In my book nothing is given as to what happens to the $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{O2}$. So what exactly happens to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{O2}$?
