HNO_3 is the abbreviation used for the chemical solution named Nitric acid. This chemical is also known as the spirit of niter and aquafortis. The chemical structure of this compound shows that it is inorganic, which means that carbon and hydrogen bonds are missing. The compound is usually colourless in nature, but it aquires a yellow shade as it ages. This yellow shade is due to the process of decomposition, which results in the formation of nitrogen oxides. These chemicals have a very suffocating odour which is also very toxic if inhaled. The taste of this compound is bitter. As this is an acid, a base like sodium bicarbonate can be used during neutralisation reactions.
Usually, the kind of nitic acid commercially available will have 68% of water content in it. The water content sometimes measures up to 68%, thus calling it fuming nitric acid. Fuming nitric acid can again be divided into red-fuming nitric acid and white-fuming nitric acid.
This chemical contains 3 oxygen atoms, 1 hydrogen atom, and 1 nitrogen atom. Here, one oxygen atom is connected with a double bond to the nitrogen atom in the center position. The other oxygen atom has a single bond with the nitrogen atom. This oxygen atom also has a single bond to a hydrogen atom. The leftover oxygen atom is also singly bonded with the nitrogen atom at the center. This oxygen atom has a charge of -1. The central nitrogen atom consists of a charge of +1. These charges, -1 and +1, cancel out each other.
The molar mass or molecular weight of this compound is 63.01 g/mol
The density of this chemical is 1.51 g/cm³
The boiling point is 83 °C
The melting point is -42 °C
It is a powerful acid
It turns blue litmus red
It can decompose and form nitrogen dioxide, which is brown
It can release hydrogen gas when reacting with metals.
To produce ammonium nitrate
To manufacture explosives for example TNT
To use as an oxidiser in liquid-fueled rockets
To remove warts
To use as a doping agent