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.

---

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

---

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 .

---

Etymology

Origin of nitric acid

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nitric acid

EPA alleged the company stored about 8,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid and 34,000 pounds of nitric acid at a Kent, Wash., facility — but neglected to report these stockpiles to the appropriate government agencies.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

A March 2 satellite image of Shiraz, three days into the war, showed a reddish plume near one of the demolished launchers, indicating that nitric acid fuel was leaking from a missile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

They are moving away from using nitric acid to purify gold, instead switching to Aqua Regia, which is less polluting.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2024

Innovations such as laser therapy and Piezoelectric therapy stimulate tissue healing by promoting the release of nitric acid, which causes blood vessels to widen.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 14, 2024

They found that if they cleaned an infected wound with chemicals such as carbolic acid, bromine, nitric acid, and iodine, they could sometimes heal it.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow