nitric acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless or yellowish, fuming, suffocating, caustic, corrosive, water-soluble liquid, HNO 3 , having powerful oxidizing properties, usually obtained from ammonia or from Chile saltpeter: used chiefly in the manufacture of explosives and fertilizers and in organic synthesis.

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nitric acid British  

noun

1. Former name: aqua fortis.  a colourless or yellowish fuming corrosive liquid usually used in aqueous solution. It is an oxidizing agent and a strong monobasic acid: important in the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, and many other chemicals. Formula: HNO 3

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nitric acid Scientific  

1. A clear, colorless to yellow liquid that is very corrosive and can dissolve most metals. It is used to make fertilizers, explosives, dyes, and rocket fuels. Chemical formula: HNO ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of nitric acid

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Nitric acid is a highly corrosive colorless liquid used to make ammonium nitrate for fertilizers and the manufacture of plastics and dyes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2023

Nitric acid is used to make ammonium nitrate for fertilizers and in the manufacture of plastics and dyes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

Nitric acid is stable in aqueous solution; solutions containing 68% of the acid are commercially available concentrated nitric acid.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Nitric acid finds extensive use in the laboratory and in chemical industries as a strong acid and strong oxidizing agent.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Nitric acid, strong or weak, has no sensible action.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 365, December 30, 1882 by Various