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
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