NITRIC ACID, 35KGS DRUMS, CHINA /FRANCE
Nitric Acid: A Powerful and Corrosive Compound
Nitric acid is a strong, corrosive mineral acid with the chemical formula HNO₃. It's a colorless liquid that tends to acquire a yellow cast over time due to decomposition into nitrogen oxides.
Properties of Nitric Acid
- Strong acid: Completely ionizes in water to produce hydronium and nitrate ions.
- Powerful oxidizing agent: Easily accepts electrons from other substances, leading to oxidation.
- Corrosive: Can cause severe burns to skin and damage to many materials.
- Fuming: Concentrated nitric acid releases brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.
Uses of Nitric Acid
Nitric acid has a wide range of applications, including:
- Fertilizer production: Key ingredient in the manufacture of ammonium nitrate and other nitrogen-based fertilizers.
- Explosives production: Used to produce compounds like nitroglycerin and TNT.
- Nylon production: Involved in the synthesis of nylon precursors.
- Laboratory reagent: Used for various chemical reactions and analysis.
- Metal etching: Used to etch metals for various purposes.
