Nitric acid: Overview
Description
Nitric acid is used in a wide variety of chemical processes where cleaning, oxidising or etching is required, including making synthetic fibres, dying, electrical circuit board making, electroplating, explosives, laboratory chemicals, metal cleaning and etching, semiconductors, pharmaceutical manufacture. It is used in the manufacture of fertilisers and other organic chemicals, in the printing industry for photoengraving, in jewellery manufacturing, and for wet chemical etching.
Substance details
Substance name: Nitric acid
CASR number: 7697-37-2
Molecular formula: HNO3
Synonyms: Hydrogen Nitrate, Azotic acid, aqua fortis, red fuming acid, Nital, Nitryl Hydroxide
Physical properties
Nitric acid is a transparent, colourless or yellowish, corrosive liquid with an acrid or pungent odour.
Melting Point: -41.59°C
Boiling Point: 121°C
Specific Gravity: 1.502
Vapour Density: 2-3.0
Chemical properties
Strongly acidic and highly reactive compound. Fumes in moist air, reacts readily with organic and plastic compounds, and many metals.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of nitric acid emissions in Australia.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window
