nitric acid formula

Jillada14 Mar, 2023Business

Nitric acid is an inorganic compound with the molecular formula HNO3. It is a very corrosive inorganic acid. [6] The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow due to decomposition into nitrogen oxides. Most commercially available nitric acid is 68% concentrated in water. When the solution contains more than 86% HNO3, it is called fuming nitric acid. Depending on the amount of nitrogen dioxide present, fuming nitric acid is further characterized as red fuming nitric acid at concentrations greater than 86% or as white fuming nitric acid at concentrations greater than 95%. Nitric acid is the main reagent used for nitration - the addition of nitro groups, usually to organic molecules. While some of the resulting nitro compounds are shock- and heat-sensitive explosives, some are stable enough to be used in ammunition and demolition, while others are more stable and useful as pigments in inks and dyes. Nitric acid is also commonly used as a strong oxidizing agent.