The Chemical formula of nitric acid is HNO3.
Characteristics of nitric acid
| Characteristics | Details |
| Chemical formula | HNO3 |
| Molecular weight | 63.01 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to yellowish liquid |
| Odor | Pungent |
| Density | 1.50 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Melting point | -42 °C |
| Boiling point | 83 °C |
| Solubility in water | Completely miscible, forms a highly acidic solution |
| Corrosive | Strongly corrosive to many metals and organic materials |
| Oxidizing properties | Strong oxidizing agent, reacts with many substances |
| Uses | Production of fertilizers, explosives, and dyes; etching |
| Health hazards | Corrosive to skin and eyes, can cause severe burns |
| Environmental hazards | Can contribute to acid rain and water pollution |
Reaction of nitric acid with Alkali Metal
| Alkali Metal | Reaction with Nitric Acid | Balanced Chemical Equation |
| Lithium (Li) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of lithium nitrate and hydrogen. | 2Li + 2HNO3 → 2LiNO3 + H2 |
| Sodium (Na) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of sodium nitrate and hydrogen. | 2Na + 2HNO3 → 2NaNO3 + H2 |
| Potassium (K) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of potassium nitrate and hydrogen. | 2K + 2HNO3 → 2KNO3 + H2 |
| Rubidium (Rb) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of rubidium nitrate and hydrogen. | 2Rb + 2HNO3 → 2RbNO3 + H2 |
| Caesium (Cs) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of caesium nitrate and hydrogen. | 2Cs + 2HNO3 → 2CsNO3 + H2 |
Reaction of nitric acid with Alkaline Earth Metal
| Alkaline Earth Metal | Reaction with Nitric Acid | Balanced Chemical Equation |
| Beryllium (Be) | Passivation occurs, a thin layer of beryllium oxide is formed. | 2Be + 4HNO3 → 2Be(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + O2 + 2H2O |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Slow reaction, produces magnesium nitrate and hydrogen. | Mg + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2 |
| Calcium (Ca) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of calcium nitrate, nitrogen dioxide, and water. | Ca + 2HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2 + NO2 + H2O |
| Strontium (Sr) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of strontium nitrate, nitrogen dioxide, and water. | Sr + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + NO2 + H2O |
| Barium (Ba) | Fast reaction occur result in formation of barium nitrate, nitrogen dioxide, and water. | Ba + 2HNO3 → Ba(NO3)2 + NO2 + H2O |
Reaction of nitric acid with Transition Metal
| Transition Metal | Balanced Chemical Equation | |
| Iron (Fe) | 3Fe + 8HNO3 → 3Fe(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O | |
| Copper (Cu) | 3Cu + 8HNO3 → 3Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O | |
| Silver (Ag) | 3Ag + 4HNO3 → 3AgNO3 + NO + 2H2O | |
| Gold (Au) | 4Au + 8HNO3 → 4Au(NO3)3 + 3NO + 4H2O | |
| Platinum (Pt) | Pt + 4HNO3 + 2HCl → H2PtCl6 + 4NO2 + 2H2O + Cl2 | |
| Mercury (Hg) | Hg + 4HNO3 → Hg(NO3)2 + 2H2O + NO2 |
Reaction of nitric acid with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal | Balanced Chemical Equation | |
| Aluminum (Al) | 2Al + 6HNO3 → 2Al(NO3)3 + 3H2O | |
| Zinc (Zn) | Zn + 2HNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + H2O | |
| Tin (Sn) | Sn + 4HNO3 → SnO2 + 4NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Lead (Pb) | 3Pb + 8HNO3 → 3Pb(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O | |
| Bismuth (Bi) | 2Bi + 6HNO3 → 2Bi(NO3)3 + 3H2O | |
| Antimony (Sb) | 2Sb + 5HNO3 → Sb2O5 + 5NO2 + H2O | |
| Selenium (Se) | Se + 6HNO3 → H2SeO4 + 6NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Tellurium (Te) | Te + 8HNO3 → H6TeO6 + 8NO2 + 2H2O |
Reaction of nitric acid with Non-Metal
| Non-Metal | Balanced Chemical Equation | |
| Hydrogen | 4HNO3 + 4H+ + 4e- → 2H2O + 2NO + NO2 | |
| Carbon | C + 4HNO3 → CO2 + 4NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Sulfur | S + 6HNO3 → H2SO4 + 6NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Phosphorus | P4 + 20HNO3 → 4H3PO4 + 20NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Iodine | 3I2 + 10HNO3 → 6HIO3 + 10NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Bromine | 3Br2 + 10HNO3 → 6HBrO3 + 10NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Chlorine | 6Cl2 + 20HNO3 → 12HClO3 + 20NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Nitrogen | N2 + 6HNO3 → 2HNO3 + 4NO2 + H2O |
Reaction of nitric acid with Lanthanide
| Lanthanide | Balanced Chemical Equation | |
| Cerium | 2Ce + 12HNO3 → 2Ce(NO3)4 + 3H2 + 4NO | |
| Praseodymium | 2Pr + 12HNO3 → 2Pr(NO3)3 + 3H2 + 4NO | |
| Neodymium | 2Nd + 12HNO3 → 2Nd(NO3)3 + 3H2 + 4NO | |
| Samarium | 2Sm + 12HNO3 → 2Sm(NO3)3 + 3H2 + 4NO |
Reaction of nitric acid with Actinide
| Actinide | Balanced Chemical Equation | |
| Uranium | U + 4HNO3 → UO2(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O | |
| Plutonium | Pu + 6HNO3 → Pu(NO3)4 + 4NO2 + 3H2O | |
| Americium | 2Am + 12HNO3 → 2Am(NO3)3 + 3H2 + 4NO | |
| Curium | 2Cm + 12HNO3 → 2Cm(NO3)3 + 3H2 + 4NO |