Acidum Nitricum. Nitric Acid. A liquid composed of 68 per cent., by weight, of absolute Nitric Acid (Hno3=62.89), and 32 per cent of water.

Source

Made from Potassium Nitrate by distilling with Sulphuric Acid. Kno3+H2So4=Khso4+Hno3.

Characters

A colorless, fuming liquid, very caustic and corrosive, and having a peculiar, somewhat suffocating odor. Sp. gr., about 1.414.

Impurities

Sulphuric acid, nitre, and lower nitrogen oxides, giving ruddy fumes.

Incompatibles

Alcohol, alkalies, carbonates, oxides, iron sulphate, and lead acetate.

Nitric Acid is contained in Liquor Ferri Nitratis, Liquor Zinci Chloridi, and Unguentum Hydrargyri Nitratis.

Preparations