Nitric acid

Nitric acid is an <a href="/facts/Inorganic_compound/TfFfzxSz">inorganic compound</a> with the formula <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">H</a><a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">N</a><a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">O</a>3. It is a highly <a href="/facts/Corrosive/7LXjT1XE">corrosive</a> <a href="/facts/Mineral_acid/MaftYXr0">mineral acid</a>. The compound is colorless, but samples tend to acquire a yellow cast over time due to decomposition into <a href="/facts/Nitrogen_oxide/ved7hE6X">oxides of nitrogen</a>. Most commercially available nitric acid has a concentration of 68% in water. When the solution contains more than 86% HNO3, it is referred to as fuming nitric acid. Depending on the amount of <a href="/facts/Nitrogen_dioxide/FoLvApPI">nitrogen dioxide</a> present, fuming nitric acid is further characterized as <a href="/facts/Red_fuming_nitric_acid/nPLqRxdo">red fuming nitric acid</a> at concentrations above 86%, or white fuming nitric acid at concentrations above 95%.
Nitric acid is the primary reagent used for <a href="/facts/Nitration/VnszL09H">nitration</a> – the addition of a <a href="/facts/Nitro_group/pem2BhMY">nitro group</a>, typically to an <a href="/facts/Organic_molecule/gqCNaN45">organic molecule</a>. While some resulting <a href="/facts/Nitro_compound/pem2BhMY">nitro compounds</a> are shock- and thermally-sensitive <a href="/facts/Explosive/sUme5Pp8">explosives</a>, a few are stable enough to be used in munitions and demolition, while others are still more stable and used as synthetic dyes and medicines (e.g. <a href="/facts/Metronidazole/pY5K5twk">metronidazole</a>). Nitric acid is also commonly used as a <a href="/facts/Oxidizing_agent/1FQzB8pQ">strong oxidizing agent</a>.

Nitric acid open-in-new

Nitric acid