nitric acid
noun
ni·tric acid ˈnī-trik- 
: a corrosive liquid inorganic acid HNO3 used especially as an oxidizing agent, in nitrations, and in making organic compounds (such as fertilizers, explosives, and dyes)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Turkish pop singer Bergen, who grappled with a violent husband that hired someone to pour nitric acid on her face and later shot and killed her. 
Manori Ravindran, Variety, 29 July 2022 The facility uses natural gas to produce ammonia, which is then upgraded into a variety of fertilizers: urea, ammonia nitrate and nitric acid. Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 14 July 2022 The two sides also swapped blame over who was responsible for blowing up a nitric acid tank at Sievierodonetsk's Azot chemical plant. Grayson Quay, The Week, 2 June 2022 Haidai also said that Russia struck a nitric acid tank at a chemical plant, exposing residents to toxic fumes. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 The Luhansk regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, said Russian strikes also destroyed a nitric acid factory in the city. Patrick J. Mcdonnell, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 Lasting about 2 minutes and 40 seconds, the video shows a number of instances in which Pythom employees appear to be handling the Eiger rocket and its hypergolic propellants (furfuryl alcohol and nitric acid) with less than industry-standard care. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2022 On April 9, Russian troops hit a nitric acid tank in the Luhansk region. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022 In the Luhansk region on Tuesday, an attack that Ukrainians blamed on Russian forces hit a storage tank containing nitric acid, releasing a toxic cloud and prompting the regional administrator to urge people to stay inside and close their windows. New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022 See More
Manori Ravindran, Variety, 29 July 2022 The facility uses natural gas to produce ammonia, which is then upgraded into a variety of fertilizers: urea, ammonia nitrate and nitric acid. Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 14 July 2022 The two sides also swapped blame over who was responsible for blowing up a nitric acid tank at Sievierodonetsk's Azot chemical plant. Grayson Quay, The Week, 2 June 2022 Haidai also said that Russia struck a nitric acid tank at a chemical plant, exposing residents to toxic fumes. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 The Luhansk regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, said Russian strikes also destroyed a nitric acid factory in the city. Patrick J. Mcdonnell, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 Lasting about 2 minutes and 40 seconds, the video shows a number of instances in which Pythom employees appear to be handling the Eiger rocket and its hypergolic propellants (furfuryl alcohol and nitric acid) with less than industry-standard care. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2022 On April 9, Russian troops hit a nitric acid tank in the Luhansk region. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022 In the Luhansk region on Tuesday, an attack that Ukrainians blamed on Russian forces hit a storage tank containing nitric acid, releasing a toxic cloud and prompting the regional administrator to urge people to stay inside and close their windows. New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French nitrique, from nitre niter, from Middle French
First Known Use
1788, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
nitric acid
noun
ni·tric acid ˈnī-trik-
: a strong liquid acid that contains hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen and is used in making fertilizers, explosives, and dyes
Medical Definition
nitric acid
noun
: a corrosive liquid inorganic acid HNO3 used especially as an oxidizing agent, in nitrations, and in making organic compounds