An Industrial-Grade Oxidizer Behind Fertilizers, Metal Finishing and Chemical Synthesis
Nitric acid is one of the fundamental mineral acids used across heavy industry, far beyond the walls of a chemistry lab. This 1 kg package suits small production batches, metalworking workshops, training laboratories and research facilities that do not require bulk industrial volumes. The reagent belongs to the Acids, Salts, Alcohols, and Alkalis section, which brings together reactants for organic and inorganic synthesis, analytical testing and industrial technological processes.
The largest global demand for nitric acid comes from fertilizer manufacturing, where it serves as the raw material for producing ammonium and potassium nitrates. A second major field is metallurgy and metal finishing: the acid is widely used for etching steel, copper and brass, cleaning surfaces before electroplating, and in the traditional touchstone method for determining gold and silver purity. In electronics manufacturing, diluted solutions are applied for printed circuit board etching and contact cleaning. In chemical synthesis the acid acts as an oxidizer and nitrating agent in the production of dyes, industrial explosive compounds and various organic intermediates. Analytical chemistry represents another steady application, where the reagent is used for sample digestion prior to quantitative metal analysis by spectrometry methods.
Working with concentrated nitric acid demands strict safety discipline: the reagent is a strong oxidizer that reacts violently with organic materials, metals, alkalis and reducing agents, releasing nitrogen oxide fumes on contact with certain substances. Dilution should always be performed by adding the acid slowly into water while stirring continuously, never the reverse. Handling should take place under a fume hood or in a well-ventilated area, wearing acid-resistant gloves, goggles and an apron. Store the reagent in a tightly sealed glass or oxidation-resistant polymer container, in a cool, dark location away from heat sources, organic solvents, metal filings and alkaline compounds.
Unlike nitric acid, which is a strong inorganic oxidizer, the same section also offers milder organic acids commonly used in cosmetic and food formulations. For instance, Oleic Acid 25 ml and Oleic Acid 100 ml are used as emollient components in cream formulations, while Tartaric Acid 30 g is applied in food processing and as a pH adjuster in cosmetic bases. These reagents differ significantly from nitric acid in terms of reactivity and handling requirements and should never be treated as interchangeable.
Dosage of nitric acid depends entirely on the intended process: etching baths typically use dilutions ranging from 1 to 3 up to 1 to 10 parts water, while analytical digestion concentrations are selected according to the specific testing protocol. The reagent is usually introduced at room temperature, except in select high-temperature synthesis processes where heating is applied gradually to control gas evolution.
Gold Touchstone Testing Solution
Nitric acid 25 ml
Distilled water 75 ml
Sodium chloride 2 g
In
a glass or ceramic container, slowly pour the nitric acid into the distilled
water in small portions while stirring continuously with a glass rod. Dissolve
the sodium chloride completely in the resulting solution. Rub a small streak of
the metal sample onto a testing stone, apply a drop of the prepared solution and
observe the reaction: the rate and color of dissolution indicate the
approximate purity of the gold alloy. Perform all steps under a fume hood,
wearing gloves and protective goggles, keeping the solution away from skin,
fabric and open flame.