Library

Nitric acid

Athanor · official

HNO3 · 63.013 g/mol

Also called aqua fortis, spirit of nitre

Open in Athanor
The structure of Nitric acid
Drawn from its SMILES with RDKit000OX
OxidizerCorrosiveAcute toxicityDangerMay intensify fire; oxidizer · Causes severe skin burns and eye damage · Fatal if inhaled

Names and identifiers

IUPAC name
nitric acid
Synonyms
aqua fortis, spirit of nitre, Azotic acid
+ 37 more

Aqua fortis, Salpetersaeure, Nital, HNO3, Acide nitrique, Acidum nitricum, Nitricum acidum, Nitrous fumes, Nitryl hydroxide, Engraver's acid, Salpetersaure, RFNA, Acido nitrico, Azotowy kwas, Kyselina dusicne, Salpeterzuuroplossingen, Nitric acid, anhydrous, acide azotique, HONO2, trioxonitric acid, Nitric acid (red fuming), 411VRN1TV4, DTXSID5029685, hydroxidodioxidonitrogen, hydrogen trioxonitrate(1-), CHEBI:48107, (NO2(OH)), [NO2(OH)], Engravers acid, White fuming nitric acid (WFNA), Nitricum acidum 30C, Nitricum acidum 200C, RefChem:6662, 231-714-2, DTXCID509685, Bestmade Natural Products Nitric Acid, 682-472-3

Molecular formula
HNO3
Empirical formula
HNO3
Molecular weight
63.013 g/mol
Exact mass
62.99564
CAS number
7697-37-2
PubChem CID
944
Canonical SMILES
[N+](=O)(O)[O-]
Isomeric SMILES
[N+](=O)(O)[O-]
InChI
InChI=1S/HNO3/c2-1(3)4/h(H,2,3,4)
InChIKey
GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Molfile

Names, InChI and the identifiers from PubChem, retrieved 2026-10-14.

Physical properties

TemperaturePressureDensity
Appearance
Colorless, yellow, or red fuming liquid.[6]
9 values

From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.

ValueAs writtenSource
–Nitric acid, other than red fuming appears as a pale yellow to reddish brown liquid with reddish brown vapors and a suffocating odor. Very toxic by inhalation. Corrosive to metals or tissue. Accelerates the burning of combustible material and may cause ignition of combustible materials upon contact. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or short term exposure to high concentrations may result in adverse health effects. Density 12 lb / gal.[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–Nitric acid, red fuming appears as a pale yellow to reddish brown liquid generating red-brown fumes and having a suffocating odor. Very toxic by inhalation. Corrosive to metals or tissue. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or short term exposure to high concentrations may result in adverse health effects. Rate of onset: Immediate Persistence: Hours - days Odor threshold: ~1 ppm Source/use/other hazard: Used in many industries; Very corrosive to skin/mucous membranes as well as metals & other materials.[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–CBI; Liquid; Other Solid; Liquid[2] EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
–COLOURLESS-TO-YELLOW LIQUID WITH PUNGENT ODOUR.[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor.[4] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
–Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution. Fuming nitric acid is concentrated nitric acid that contains dissolved nitrogen dioxide.][5] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
–Transparent, colorless, or yellowish, fuming, hygroscopic, corrosive liquid[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lewis, R.J. Sr.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 15th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 2007., p. 891
–shownColorless, yellow, or red fuming liquid.[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards & Other Databases CD-ROM. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Prevention & Control. National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-168 (2010). Available from, as of Jul 14, 2011: https://www.
–Concentrated nitric acid is a colorless to yellow liquid.[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Ashford, R.D. Ashford's Dictionary of Industrial Chemicals. London, England: Wavelength Publications Ltd., 1994., p. 632
Odor
Acrid; Sweet to acrid[6]
2 values

From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.

ValueAs writtenSource
–shownAcrid; Sweet to acrid[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation. CHRIS - Hazardous Chemical Data. Volume II. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1984-5.
–Acrid, suffocating odor[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards & Other Databases CD-ROM. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Prevention & Control. National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-168 (2010). Available from, as of Jul 14, 2011: https://www.
Melting point
-41.6 °C[3]
6 values

5 of 5 sources agree on it (most common value).

1 more value was reported but failed the checks (unreadable or out of range), so it is not shown.

Boiling point
83 °C (181 °F) at 760 mmHg (NIOSH, 2024)[1]
6 values

4 of 5 sources agree on it (most common value).

Density
1.5129 @ 20°C[7]
5 values

3 of 4 sources agree on it (most common value).

ValueAs writtenSource
–1.5 at 77 °F (NIOSH, 2024) - Denser than water[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–1.5 at 77 °F (NIOSH, 2024) - Denser than water[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–Relative density (water = 1): 1.4[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–1.5[4] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
–shown1.5129 @ 20°C[7] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

1 more value was reported but failed the checks (unreadable or out of range), so it is not shown.

Solubility in water
Solubility in water at 20 °C: miscible[3]
5 values

From ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs), the most authoritative source here.

ValueAs writtenSource
–Miscible (NIOSH, 2024)[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–Miscible (NIOSH, 2024)[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–Miscible with water[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Clarke SI, Mazzafro WJ ; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (1999-2011). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Nitric Acid. Online Posting Date: 13 May 2005
–shownSolubility in water at 20 °C: miscible[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–Miscible[5] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
log P
-0.21[3]
Vapor pressure
63.1 mmHg at 25 °C[6]
3 values

Sources disagree; from Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative.

ValueAs writtenSource
63.1 mmHgshown63.1 mm Hg at 25 °C[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Daubert, T.E., R.P. Danner. Physical and Thermodynamic Properties of Pure Chemicals Data Compilation. Washington, D.C.: Taylor and Francis, 1989.
48 mmHgVapor pressure, kPa at 20 °C: 6.4[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
75 mmHg75 [mm Hg] @28.4 °C[7] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

4 more values were reported but failed the checks (unreadable or out of range), so they are not shown.

Viscosity
1.092 mPa.s at 0 °C[6]
3 values

Only one source reports it.

ValueAs writtenSource
–shown1.092 mPa.s at 0 °C[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Gerhartz, W. (exec ed.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 5th ed.Vol A1: Deerfield Beach, FL: VCH Publishers, 1985 to Present., p. VA17: 294 (1991)
–0.746 mPa.s at 25 °C[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Gerhartz, W. (exec ed.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 5th ed.Vol A1: Deerfield Beach, FL: VCH Publishers, 1985 to Present., p. VA17: 294 (1991)
–0.617 mPa.s at 40 °C[6] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Gerhartz, W. (exec ed.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 5th ed.Vol A1: Deerfield Beach, FL: VCH Publishers, 1985 to Present., p. VA17: 294 (1991)

Each value as its source reports it, with the source's number after it (listed under References). Where several sources report a property, the row shows the value most of them agree on, the rule the app uses; open the values to see every one.

Calculated

Heavy atoms
4
Rings
0
Aromatic rings
0
Fraction sp³ carbons (Fsp3)
0
H-bond donors
1
H-bond acceptors
2 computed here · PubChem 3
Rotatable bonds
0
TPSA (Ų)
63.4 computed here · PubChem 66.1
Formal charge
0
XLogP3
0.2 PubChem
Complexity
24 PubChem
Stereocenters
None
Double-bond geometry
None specified
Point group
Cs of one 3D conformer with its hydrogens, by Athanor’s engine (as in the app)

Elemental analysis

  • H1.60%
  • N22.23%
  • O76.17%

Isotope pattern

100%62.99663.99565.000

Each peak is a nominal mass with its abundance-weighted exact mass, as a percentage of the tallest, from IUPAC natural isotope abundances.

Computed from the structure with RDKit 2026.09 when this page was built, beside PubChem's own computed values from its record; where the two differ, both are shown.

Predicted

log P
-0.35 Crippen (Wildman and Crippen 1999)
log S (water solubility)
-0.01 ESOL (Delaney 2004), log mol/L
Synthetic accessibility
2.69 SA score, 1 easy to 10 hard (Ertl and Schuffenhauer 2009)

Drug-likeness: Lipinski’s rule of five

  • Molecular weight ≤ 500: 63.01
  • log P ≤ 5 (Crippen): -0.35
  • H-bond donors ≤ 5: 1
  • H-bond acceptors ≤ 10: 2

Passes all four rules.

Predictions, not measurements; each names its method. A measured log P, where a source reports one, is under Physical properties.

Safety

Danger

Harmonized EU classification (CLP Annex VI). Source [8].

  • Oxidizer
  • Corrosive
  • Acute toxicity
000OX
NFPA 704[4]
  • H272May intensify fire; oxidizer
  • H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
  • H330Fatal if inhaled

Precautionary statements: P210, P220, P260, P264, P271, P280, P284, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P320, P321, P363, P370+P378, P403+P233, P405, P501

View all classifications (5)
  • [8] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · DangerH272, H314, H330
  • [8] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · DangerH272, H314, H331
  • [9] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for < 0.1% (1 of 4215) of reports.
  • [9] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · 4,215 reports · DangerH272, H290, H318, H331
  • [9] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · WarningH290, H302

Exposure limits

  • PEL-TWA (8-Hour Time Weighted Average): 2 ppm (5 mg/m³)[4]
  • PEL: TWA 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) See Appendix G[5]
  • REL-STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit): 4 ppm (10 mg/m³)[4]
  • REL: TWA 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) ST 4 ppm (10 mg/m3)[5]
  • TLV: 2 ppm as TWA; 4 ppm as STEL.[3]
  • TLV-TWA (Time Weighted Average): 2 ppm [1992][4]

First aid

  • Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Nitric acid: Eye: Irrigate immediately - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Skin: Water flush immediately - If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin with water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately remove the clothing and flush the skin with water.[1]
  • Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Nitric acid: Eye: Irrigate immediately - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Skin: Water flush immediately - If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin with water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately remove the clothing and flush the skin with water.[1]
  • General First Aid: · Call 911 or emergency medical service. · Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, take precautions to protect themselves and avoid contamination. · Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely. · Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. · If victim is not breathing: -- DO NOT perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the victim may have ingested or inhaled the substance. -- If equipped and pulse detected, wash face and mouth, then give artificial respiration using a proper respiratory medical device (bag-valve mask, pocket mask equipped…[10]
  • (General first aid procedures) Eye: Irrigate immediately - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Skin: Water flush immediately - If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin with water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately remove the clothing and flush the skin with water.[5]

Storage

  • Separated from combustible substances, reducing agents, bases, organic chemicals and food and feedstuffs. Cool. Dry. Keep in a well-ventilated room. Store only in original container.[3]
  • As a rule, nitric acid is stored in stainless steel tanks and transported in stainless steel containers.[6]
  • Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Separate from alkalies, metals, organics, and other oxidizing materials.[6]
  • Storage areas should be separated from other premises, well-ventilated, sheltered from sunlight and sources of heat ... Should have a cement floor ... Contain no substances with which ... Acid might react. Large stocks ... Surrounded by curbs or sills ... In the event of leakage & provisions for neutralization should be made. A fire hydrant ... Should be ... Outside ... Storage premises. ... Electrical equipment should be of the water-proof type and resistant to acid attack. Safety lighting is desirable.[6]

Incompatibilities

  • Can react explosively with many reducing agents.[6]
  • Reacts explosively with metallic powders, carbides, cyanides, sulfides, alkalies, & turpentine.[6]
  • A jet of ammonia will ignite in nitric acid vapor.[6]
  • For more Hazardous Reactivities and Incompatibilities (Complete) data for nitric ACID (108 total), please visit the HSDB record page.[6]

Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet before working with it.

Spectra

Experimental spectra held by these sources; each link opens the source's own record.

Literature

Reading PubChem, OpenAlex and GSRS…

Bioactivity

Reading ChEMBL…

References

  1. [1]CAMEO Chemicals · Public domain (NOAA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  2. [2]EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) · Public domain (US EPA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  3. [3]ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) · CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  4. [4]Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) · Public domain (US DOL) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  5. [5]The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) · Public domain (US CDC) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  6. [6]Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · Public domain (US NLM) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  7. [7]PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy · Public domain (US DOE) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  8. [8]Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · EU reuse policy, CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  9. [9]European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · ECHA legal notice: reuse with acknowledgement · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  10. [10]Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) · Public domain (US DOT) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  11. [11]SpectraBase · Linked only · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
  12. ·Calculated values: computed by Athanor with RDKit 2026.09 from the structure.
  13. ·Literature on PubChem

Data last updated 2026-10-14.