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)

Examples of nitric acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To study how methyl mercury gets deposited, the researchers take samples of lichens, dissolving them in nitric acid to extract mercury and other metals. —Daniella Garcia Almeida, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026

According to dispatchers, nitric acid was accidentally released from a barrel, causing a red vapor cloud to gather inside the building. —Patrick Damp, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2025

Matty does a fiery demo in Olympia’s kitchen, and Olympia confronts the fire expert on the stand with a bucket full of ping pong balls, each of which contain a tiny bit of nitric acid. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Oct. 2025

According to the release, the chemical involved in the incident was identified as hyperflex, or acid sanitizer, which contains phosphoric acid and nitric acid. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French nitrique, from nitre niter, from Middle French

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nitric acid

• antacid
• placid

Kids Definition

nitric acid

noun

ˈnī-trik-

: a strong liquid nitrogen-containing acid 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