Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a highly corrosive, colorless to slightly yellow liquid with powerful oxidizing properties. As one of the most important industrial chemicals, this strong mineral acid serves critical roles in fertilizer production, metal processing, and chemical manufacturing. With a molecular weight of 63.01 g/mol and complete water solubility, nitric acid delivers exceptional performance in demanding industrial applications requiring precise chemical reactions and reliable results.
Key Applications
Fertilizer Production: Essential component in manufacturing ammonium nitrate and other nitrogen-based fertilizers for agricultural use
Metal Etching and Processing: Highly effective for cleaning, passivating, and etching stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals in manufacturing processes
Nitration Reactions: Critical reagent for producing nitro compounds, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals in organic synthesis
Laboratory Operations: Trusted analytical reagent for digestion procedures, trace metal analysis, and general laboratory applications
Safety & Handling
Nitric acid requires extreme caution during handling due to its highly corrosive nature and strong oxidizing properties. The concentrated solution has a pH less than 1 and produces pungent, suffocating vapors with a vapor pressure of 48 mmHg at 20°C. Essential safety measures include wearing full chemical-resistant PPE including face shields, acid-resistant gloves, and protective clothing. Ensure adequate ventilation systems are in place, as vapor density is 2.2 times heavier than air. Never mix with organic materials or reducing agents, as violent reactions may occur.
Storage & Shelf Life
Store nitric acid in corrosion-resistant containers made of stainless steel or specialized plastics in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas away from incompatible materials. Maintain storage temperatures below 25°C to minimize vapor generation and decomposition. Keep away from metals, organic compounds, bases, and reducing agents. Proper storage ensures extended shelf life and maintains product integrity. Regular container inspection is essential due to the corrosive nature of the chemical.
Why Alliance Chemical
Alliance Chemical delivers premium-grade Nitric Acid with same-day shipping from our Taylor, Texas facility. We offer flexible shipping options including UPS, LTL, and FTL to meet your delivery requirements. Every order includes comprehensive Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Certificates of Analysis (COA) ensuring you receive properly documented, high-quality chemicals for your critical applications.
Shipping & Availability
Parcel Shipping
UPS Ground supports pints, quarts, and most 1-gallon packages nationwide.
LTL Freight
5-gallon pails, drums, and totes move via LTL carriers such as ABF Freight, SEFL, Saia, and XPO.
Full Truckload
FTL available for palletized bulk orders. Competitive freight rates.
Local Pickup
Same-day pickup at our Taylor, TX warehouse for Texas customers.
SDS, COA, and TDS available for every product • Same-day shipping on orders before 1 PM CT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is nitric acid (HNO3) and what is it used for?
Nitric acid (CAS 7697-37-2, formula HNO3) is a strong mineral acid and oxidizer used in industrial and laboratory settings. Common uses include nitration reactions, metal pickling/cleaning, etching, and as a reagent in chemical synthesis and analysis.
How should nitric acid be stored and what is its typical shelf life?
Store nitric acid in a cool, well‑ventilated area away from heat, direct sunlight, organics, and reducing agents, in corrosion‑resistant containers (e.g., glass, PTFE, or specified HDPE lined tanks). When kept sealed and stored properly, commercial solutions are generally stable for months to years, but discoloration or NOx odor indicates decomposition and the product should be evaluated before use.
What safety precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) are required when handling nitric acid?
Use chemical splash goggles or a face shield, acid‑resistant gloves (butyl, neoprene or similar), lab coat or apron, and work in a fume hood or well‑ventilated area; avoid skin contact and inhalation. Have emergency eyewash and safety shower available, follow SDS procedures for spills, and never mix with organic materials or reducing agents.
How do the different concentrations (65%, 40%, 25%, 20%, 5%) affect performance and hazard?
Higher concentrations (e.g., 65%) are more oxidizing and corrosive and are preferred for nitration and aggressive industrial processes, while lower concentrations (5–25%) are used for rinsing, cleaning, or analytical work. Hazard severity (corrosivity, fuming, reactivity) increases with concentration, so storage, PPE and handling practices should be scaled accordingly.
What documentation is provided with a nitric acid shipment?
Shipments typically include a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), Certificate of Analysis (CoA) or lot assay, and product specification or technical data sheet; transport documentation (e.g., shipping papers) will reflect hazard classification. Additional regulatory documents may be provided on request for restricted applications or international shipments.
How is nitric acid packaged and transported?
Nitric acid is transported as a regulated hazardous material (oxidizing corrosive) and is shipped in approved packaging such as lined steel drums, HDPE drums or carboys, glass bottles for small quantities, and specially lined tankers for bulk. Transport must comply with applicable local and international rules (DOT/IATA/IMDG), proper labeling, and segregation from incompatible materials.
What materials are compatible or incompatible with nitric acid?
Compatible materials include glass, PTFE, certain fluoropolymers and carefully selected alloys or lined equipment; compatibility depends on concentration and temperature. Incompatible materials include most organic compounds, many metals (especially copper, brass, and untreated iron), and strong reducing agents—always consult a chemical compatibility chart or supplier data for specific applications.
What are the key technical specifications for your nitric acid products?
Key specs include CAS 7697-37-2 and formula HNO3, available concentrations (65%, 40%, 25%, 20%, 5%), appearance as a colorless to pale yellow fuming liquid, and typical assay by weight for each concentration. Detailed specifications such as impurity limits, density (approx. 1.40 g/cm3 for ~65% solutions) and CoA values are provided on request.
Which industries commonly use nitric acid and for what applications?
Nitric acid is used in chemical manufacturing (nitration), fertilizer production, explosives manufacture, metal finishing and pickling, electronics etching and cleaning, and laboratory synthesis and analysis. Its role varies from bulk industrial processing to high‑purity reagent applications in research labs.
How can I purchase nitric acid and are there any regulatory or availability considerations?
Nitric acid is available in laboratory bottles, carboys, drums and bulk tanker deliveries; lead times and minimum order sizes vary by supplier. Purchases may require customer identification, end‑use declarations or permits in some jurisdictions due to its potential use in illicit explosives, so check local regulatory requirements and contact the supplier for ordering and delivery details.
