The molecular name of HNO3 is nitric acid.
Nitric acid is a highly corrosive mineral acid. It's a colorless liquid, although older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of nitrogen oxides. It's a common laboratory reagent and an important industrial chemical for the manufacture of fertilizers and explosives.
Here's a breakdown of its composition:
- H: Represents one hydrogen atom.
- N: Represents one nitrogen atom.
- O3: Represents three oxygen atoms.
Nitric acid is a strong acid, meaning it completely dissociates into ions (H+ and NO3-) when dissolved in water. It's also a strong oxidizing agent.
