How Are The Chemical Properties Of HNO3?

To talk about the chemical properties of HNO3, first we must clarify what we are talking about when we use the nomenclature HNO3, what is the name of this chemical compound, how it is formed, and what are the uses that are given to it.

What is HNO3?

HNO3 is the formula of a chemical compound known by the chemical name of nitric acid, a substance that can be dangerous if not handled with the necessary care, as it is highly corrosive, and can present risks for living beings to suffer burns that can be serious, this compound is also known by the names of strong water, azotic acid, hydrogen nitrate, hydroxyl nitrile and fuming acid.

Over time, several ways have been implemented to obtain HNO3. Originally, it was obtained by calcination of a combination of alum, nitro, and a material called blue vitriol.

Another way of obtaining it was by combining clay with nitro and subjecting it to high temperatures, also by distilling potassium nitrate with sulfuric acid.

Chemical properties of HNO3

HNO3, nitric acid, of those known as strong acid, which acts as a powerful oxidizing agent, the reactivity of this compound has the characteristic of behaving as an explosive agent when reacting with other compounds, such as carbides, cyanides, and with a series of powders of metallic origin.

HNO3 reacts violently with organic compounds such as turpentine, acetone, alcohols, acetic acid and acetic anhydride, as it becomes a self flammable mixture.

The HNO3 compound can react with alkalis, oxides and other basic substances, resulting in the formation of salts, because of the violent reaction it can generate according to the concentration of the acid, it should not be used in laboratory cleaning.

The reactive property of this acid causes it to attack a diversity of metals, converting them into oxides, such as tin, antimony, and arsenic, and converts others into nitrates, and passivates others such as aluminum and chromium, platinum and gold are among the metals exempted from attack by HNO3.

Another of the chemical properties of HNO3 is that it dissociates completely in aqueous solutions, producing NO3, a nitrate ion, and a hydric proton, hence the salts of HNO3 that possess the nitrate ion are known as nitrates.

The electronegativity of HNO3 is higher than 2.0, this acid when concentrated generates heat release and toxic gases when mixed with water, when the temperature rises it produces nitrogen oxides which are irritating.

Physical properties of HNO3

As well as the chemical properties of HNO3, this compound also has physical properties, among which it has a viscous liquid appearance, which has no color or odor, sometimes it can have a yellowish to brownish appearance due to the impurities present in the compound.

Among other properties, it has a boiling point of 83 degrees Celsius, the melting point is -41.6 degrees Celsius, HNO3 has a very good water solubility, so it is considered a water miscible compound.

The relative density of nitric acid is 1.4, in water, and in air it is 2.2, and the vapor pressure is 6.4 kPa when at 20 degrees Celsius.

Uses of HNO3

According to the chemical properties of HNO3 that has the nitric acid has uses in many facets, the company Echemi offers this HNO3 in different presentations such as:

Nitric acid 99%

https://www.echemi.com/produce/pr2107081216-nitric-acid-99-colorless-liquid-kejiang.html

Nitric acid , Inorganic Acids

https://www.echemi.com/produce/pr2201201851-nitric-acid-inorganic-acids.html

HNO3 is used as a nitrating agent in the explosives industry, in agriculture it is used for the elaboration of fertilizers, where it is achieved by reacting this acid with other compounds such as sulfuric acid and ammonia.

The uses of HNO3 cover the field of art, where it is used in engravings, in jewelry for testing gold and platinum pieces.
Applications of HNO3 also include the electronics industry, where it is used in the construction and production of printed circuit boards, and in the pharmaceutical industry it is useful as a separating agent for compounds in organic media.

In laboratories HNO3 is useful in the synthesis of nitro derivatives, and has great functionality as an analytical reagent, as a strong oxidizing agent, and for intermediate dye functions, HNO3 has applications in the production of inks and dyes, in the plastics industry it is used in the production of polymers and other plastic derivatives, as can be seen, it is a compound that, despite the risks involved in the handling of this acid, it is widely used.