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

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

Nitrous oxide was first synthesized in the late 18th century, by dampening iron filings with nitric acid and heating it to create a gas.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

This is then used to make nitric acid, which can be applied to the soil.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2024

Similarly good graphene oxide could be synthesized previously only using rather dangerous method involving extremely toxic fuming nitric acid.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

The stuff was like nitric acid, and moreover, in swallowing it one had the sensation of being hit on the back of the head with a rubber club.

From "1984" by George Orwell