Description
Nitric acid is a strong, highly corrosive mineral acid with the chemical formula HNO₃.
It is a colorless to yellow liquid that gives off sharp, irritating fumes
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value / Description |
| Chemical Name | Nitric Acid |
| Chemical Formula | HNO₃ |
| Molar Mass | 63.01 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to yellow liquid |
| Odor | Pungent, acrid |
| pH | < 1 (strongly acidic) |
| Boiling Point | ~83°C (for 68% solution) |
| Melting Point | −42°C |
| Density | ~1.41 g/cm³ (concentrated) |
| Solubility in Water | Completely miscible |
| Oxidizing Ability | Strong oxidizing agent |
| Reactivity | Reacts with metals, organic compounds; produces NO₂ fumes |
| Decomposition | Releases nitrogen oxides (NO₂, NO) |
| Corrosiveness | Highly corrosive to skin, metals, and organic materials |
Nitric Acid is valued for its unique properties and is used across various applications:
Uses and Applications
- Fertilizer Industry
- Production of ammonium nitrate, a major nitrogen fertilizer.
- Used in the manufacture of other nitrogen-based fertilizers.
- Explosives & Military
- Making TNT, nitroglycerin, RDX, and other explosives.
- Key chemical in nitration reactions.
- Metal Processing
- Pickling stainless steel and other metals.
- Cleaning and passivation to remove rust and impurities.
- Used in aqua regia (with HCl) to dissolve gold and platinum.
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Production of:
- Dyes and pigments
- Pharmaceutical intermediates
- Organic nitrates
- Adipic acid (for nylon production)
- Electronics & Semiconductor
- Used for etching and cleaning silicon wafers.
- Preparation of high-purity metals.
- Laboratory Use
- Strong oxidizing agent in chemical analysis.
- Used in analytical digestion (e.g., metal analysis).
- Water Treatment
- Adjusting pH and preparing certain nitrate salts.
- Mining
- Dissolving ores and extracting metals.
- Preparation of metal nitrates
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