Product Overview
Nitric Acid 5% is a dilute aqueous solution of nitric acid (HNO₃), supplied as a reagent-grade liquid for analytical, etching, and process-control applications. At this concentration, the solution delivers controlled oxidizing acidity — strong enough for metal surface preparation and chromatographic work, dilute enough for safer handling at bench and pilot scale.
Available from 1-liter bottles through 55-gallon drums, this product ships under full DOT hazmat protocols as a Class 8 corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101). Each lot ships with an SDS and a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis.
Why This Concentration
Five percent nitric acid occupies a specific niche: it provides measurable oxidizing power without the aggressive fuming, high heat generation, and stringent ventilation demands of concentrated grades. For a QC lab running HPLC separations or a plating shop doing light metal etching, 5% gives you the reactivity you need with a wider margin for operator safety and tighter dosing control.
The reagent designation is a procurement signal — it tells buyers this product is sourced and packaged for analytical and laboratory workflows where purity of the acid matters to the reproducibility of results.
When your process demands more aggressive attack — faster dissolution rates on passivation lines, for example — step up to Nitric Acid 20% or Nitric Acid 25%. For heavy industrial pickling or analytical digestion requiring higher oxidizing strength, Nitric Acid 40%, Nitric Acid 65% ACS Grade, and Nitric Acid 70% ACS Grade — Low Particle are also available. Choosing by concentration lets you match the acid's aggressiveness to your process rather than over-specifying and managing unnecessary risk.
Chemical Profile
Nitric Acid 5% is a pale yellow liquid with a characteristic choking odor, supplied in liquid form. The solution has a density of 1.025 at 20 °C (5% w/w aqueous), making it only slightly denser than water. It is fully miscible in water. Vapor pressure is 48 mmHg, so the solution produces noticeable fumes in open containers — local exhaust ventilation is standard practice during dispensing and use. The active molecule is HNO₃ (molecular weight 63.013, CAS 7697-37-2), a strong inorganic acid and oxidizer. Even at 5%, the solution is corrosive to metals and tissue and must be handled with appropriate PPE.
Industrial Applications
HPLC Mobile Phase Preparation — Dilute nitric acid serves as a mobile-phase modifier in high-performance liquid chromatography, particularly for ion-exchange and ion-pairing separations of metal cations. The 5% concentration is ideal for precise dilution to the low-millimolar acidities most HPLC methods require, giving analysts a stable, reproducible starting point.
Metal Etching and Surface Preparation — At 5%, nitric acid attacks base metals at a controlled rate, producing clean, uniform etch patterns on copper, brass, and mild steel. The lower concentration reduces rapid gas evolution, making it easier to manage on fine-geometry work where etch depth and uniformity matter.
pH Adjustment in Water Treatment — Water-treatment operators use dilute nitric acid to lower pH in alkaline process streams. The 5% strength gives tighter dosing control than concentrated acid, reducing the risk of pH overshoot in feed-and-bleed or batch-correction systems.
Reagent in Chemical Synthesis — In pharmaceutical and specialty-chemical production, 5% nitric acid functions as a mild oxidizing reagent or acid catalyst where controlled acidity is required and a more concentrated acid would drive unwanted side reactions or decompose sensitive intermediates.
Oxidizing Agent in Laboratory Research — Bench-scale oxidation reactions, sample digestion preps, and glassware cleaning protocols use 5% nitric acid where full-strength acid would be excessive for the application or hazardous in the volumes required.
Handling & Storage
This product carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). The governing hazard statements are:
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H290 — May be corrosive to metals (per the product's GHS classification)
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H314 — Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
Wear chemical-splash goggles, a face shield, and chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or butyl rubber) when handling. Work in a well-ventilated area or under local exhaust ventilation; the solution's vapor pressure means fumes will accumulate in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Store in HDPE or glass containers, tightly closed, in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Keep away from strong bases and reducing agents — contact with organics or active metals can generate toxic nitrogen oxide fumes. Inspect container integrity on receipt; even dilute nitric acid will attack mild steel fittings and closures over time.
Hazmat & Shipping
Nitric Acid 5% is regulated for transport as a hazardous material. The DOT classification:
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UN Number: UN2031 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Nitric acid, other than red fuming, with less than 65 percent nitric acid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All shipments from our Taylor, TX facility are prepared, labeled, and placarded by trained hazmat personnel under 49 CFR requirements. Shipping documentation and required hazmat markings are included with every order.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order and is available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is included to confirm the specifications of your shipment. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available upon request.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product is available from 1-liter bottles to 55-gallon drums, each prepared and labeled for DOT Class 8 corrosive transport by our hazmat-trained warehouse team in Taylor, Texas. Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998. Shipping and handling guidance for this product is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist (USDOT #2188383).
