| Agent Name |
Nitric acid |
|---|
| CAS Number |
7697-37-2 |
|---|
| Formula |
H-N-O3 |
|---|
| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
|---|
| Synonyms |
Acide nitrique [French]; Acido nitrico [Italian]; Acido nitrico [Spanish]; Acidum nitricum; Aqua fortis; Azotic acid; Azotowy kwas [Polish]; Engraver's acid; Hydrogen nitrate; Kyselina dusicne [Czech]; Nital; Nitric acid; Nitrous fumes; Nitryl hydroxide; RFNA; Red fuming nitric acid; Salpetersaeure; Salpetersaure [German]; Salpeterzuuroplossingen [Dutch]; [ChemIDplus] UN2031; UN2032 |
|---|
| Category |
Acids |
|---|
| Description |
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.]; [NIOSH] |
|---|
| Sources/Uses |
Used primarily to produce ammonium nitrate fertilizer; also used in metal cleaning, etching, and manufacturing explosives; [ACGIH] |
|---|
| Comments |
Liquid causes second or third degree burns after short contact; [CHRIS] Solutions >30% are highly corrosive to skin; Solutions <30% are corrosive; [Quick CPC] Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide are usually present as hazards whenever nitric acid is used. Occupational exposure may lead to acute pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. [ACGIH] May cause erosion of teeth enamel; [ICSC] |
|---|
| Exposure Assessment |
|---|
| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
|---|
| TIH |
Yes |
|---|
| TLV (ACGIH) |
2 ppm |
|---|
| STEL (ACGIH) |
4 ppm |
|---|
| PEL (OSHA) |
2 ppm |
|---|
| IDLH (NIOSH) |
25 ppm |
|---|
| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: Rats receiving a single exposure to 63 mg/m3 nitric acid (24 ppm) exhibited no apparent adverse effects [Diggle and Gage 1954]. |
|---|
| Vapor Pressure |
63.1 mm Hg |
|---|
| Odor Threshold Low |
0.27 ppm |
|---|
| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 67 ppm (NO2)/4H |
|---|
| Explanatory Notes |
Odor threshold from AIHA; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "nitric acid, fuming." |
|---|
| Half Life |
No reports found; [TDR, p. 937] |
|---|
| Flammability (NFPA) |
0: will not burn |
|---|
| Adverse Effects |
|---|
| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
|---|
| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
|---|
| Links to Other NLM Databases |
|---|
| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: NITRIC ACID
|
|---|
