Definition of nitric acid in English English dictionary
A transparent, colourless to pale yellow, fuming corrosive liquid, HNO3; a highly reactive oxidizing agent used in the production of fertilizers, explosives, and rocket fuels and in a wide variety of industrial processes; once called aqua fortis
Nitric acid is a strong colourless acid containing nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. A transparent, colorless to yellowish, fuming corrosive liquid, HNO, a highly reactive oxidizing agent used in the production of fertilizers, explosives, and rocket fuels and in a wide variety of industrial metallurgical processes. Also called aqua fortis. a powerful acid that is used in explosives and other chemical products (nitrique, from nitre a chemical substance, from nitrum, from ntry). Inorganic compound, colourless, fuming, highly corrosive liquid, chemical formula HNO3. A common laboratory reagent, it is important in the manufacture of fertilizers and explosives (including nitroglycerin), as well as in organic syntheses, metallurgy, ore flotation, and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. A strong acid, it is toxic and can cause severe burns. It attacks most metals and is used for etching steel and photoengraving
acid used especially in the production of fertilizers and explosives and rocket fuels