Nitric acid is a monobasic strong inorganic acid famous for its robust oxidizing power and high corrosiveness. Classified as one of the six primary inorganic strong acids, it represents an indispensable feedstock for the chemical sector. Bearing the chemical formula HNO₃ and a molecular weight of 63.01, this substance sees heavy deployment in a great variety of industrial operations.
Its water-based mixture is generally called nitric acid aqueous solution. Pure nitric acid appears as a colourless, transparent fuming liquid with a sharp acidic flavour. On the industrial front, it is extensively consumed to produce fertilizers, agrochemicals, explosives, dyestuffs and a host of other chemical products.
| Foreign Name | Nitric acid |
| Chemical Formula | HNO3 |
| Molecular Weight | 63.01 |
| CAS Number | 7697-37-2 |
| EINECS | 231-714-2 |
| Melting Point | -42 °C |
| Boiling Point | 83 ℃ |
| Water Solubility | Miscible with water |
| Density | 1.5 g/cm |
| Appearance | The pure product is a colorless, transparent, fuming liquid with a sour taste. |
| Application | It is mainly used in industries such as fertilizers, dyes, national defense, explosives, metallurgy, and pharmaceuticals. |
| viscosity(mPa.s) | 0.75(25°℃) |
Nitric acid is a critical chemical feedstock. It is mainly adopted to synthesize ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, nitric phosphate fertilizer, and nitrogen‑phosphorus‑potassium compound fertilizers. It also acts as an indispensable starting material for nitrate nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate, alongside aqua regia, nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, nitrobenzene, picric acid and nitrate esters. Furthermore, nitric acid is heavily involved in the manufacturing of nitro‑type explosives.
