Nitric Acid
The core raw material for ammonium nitrate fertilizer production — and an essential reagent for metal finishing and industrial nitration chemistry worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies nitric acid to fertilizer, metal-finishing and chemical-processing manufacturers worldwide, with full documentation and consistent concentration on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 7697-37-2
- IUPAC name
- Nitric acid
- Molecular formula
- HNO₃
- Molecular weight
- 63.01 g/mol
- Boiling point
- ~83 °C (68% azeotrope)
- Supplied strength
- ~60-68% (standard)
- UN Number
- UN 2031*
- HS Code
- 2808 00
* UN 2031 covers standard nitric acid shipments by concentration band; fuming grades (>86%) carry a separate UN number (UN 2032). Confirm exact classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What Nitric Acid is used for
Nitric Acid is a colourless to pale yellow, highly corrosive, strongly oxidising liquid fully miscible with water, typically supplied commercially at around 60-68% concentration. It is produced industrially by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia (the Ostwald process).
Nitric acid's single largest use is as the raw material for ammonium nitrate fertilizer, produced by neutralising it with ammonia. It is also widely used in metal etching, pickling and surface treatment, in industrial nitration chemistry to produce nitrobenzene, adipic acid and other organic nitrogen derivatives, and as a laboratory and analytical reagent across a range of industries.
Where it sits in the nitrogen value chain
- Ammonia the sole feedstock nitric acid is oxidised from. See that page.
- Nitric Acid (this product) the core oxidising acid supplied to fertilizer and chemical plants.
- Ammonium Nitrate, Adipic Acid major derivatives produced from nitric acid.
Handling character
Nitric acid is highly corrosive and a strong oxidiser, reacting dangerously with many organic materials and metals. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid |
| Assay | 60-68% (standard grade) |
| Chloride content | Within producer specification |
| Iron content | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Clear, corrosive aqueous liquid |
| Boiling point | ~83 °C (68% azeotrope) |
| Melting point | -42 °C (68% solution) |
| Density | ~1.41 g/cm³ (68% solution) |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Oxidising character | Strong oxidiser |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 7697-37-2 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this acid to work
The acid the global nitrogen-fertilizer and metal-finishing industries rely on.
Ammonium nitrate fertilizer
Neutralised with ammonia to produce ammonium nitrate, a major nitrogen fertilizer.
- Fertilizer-grade specification
- Bulk & ISO tank supply
- Technical desk review on request
Metal etching & pickling
Used to clean, etch and passivate stainless steel and other metal surfaces in finishing operations.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Industrial nitration chemistry
Used in nitration reactions to produce nitrobenzene, adipic acid and other organic nitrogen derivatives.
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Adipic acid production
Used in the oxidation step that produces adipic acid, a key nylon-6,6 monomer.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Laboratory & analytical reagent
Used as a standard reagent in analytical and research laboratories across industries.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Fertilizer and metal-finishing plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Nitric Acid
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Concentration and trace-metal content are critical to downstream fertilizer and metal-finishing quality — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Concentration and trace-metal content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream fertilizer and metal-finishing quality.
- UN 2031 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Fertilizer-grade and industrial-grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your process.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-litre acid-resistant drums
HDPE-lined or acid-resistant drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre acid-resistant totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Acid-rated ISO tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption fertilizer and metal-finishing plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Corrosive and strongly oxidising — handle accordingly
Nitric acid causes severe skin and eye burns on contact and reacts dangerously with many organic materials and reducing agents. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H272May intensify fire; oxidiser.H290May be corrosive to metals.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Keep strictly away from organic materials and reducing agents. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in corrosion-resistant, tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, segregated from organic materials, reducing agents, metals and combustibles, with appropriate acid-resistant secondary containment.
Handling
Use full PPE (acid-resistant gloves, goggles/face shield, apron) for liquid transfer. Work under adequate ventilation; avoid any skin or eye contact and inhalation of fumes, particularly reddish-brown NOx vapour from concentrated or aged material.
Transport
Shipped as UN 2031 (Nitric acid, other than red fuming), Packing Group I, II or III depending on concentration; fuming grades ship as UN 2032. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Concentration, chloride and trace-metal limits confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How nitric acid is made
Nitric acid is produced industrially by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia (the Ostwald process), where ammonia is oxidised over a platinum-rhodium catalyst to nitric oxide, further oxidised to nitrogen dioxide, and absorbed into water. This is a long-established route in inorganic chemistry, directly downstream of ammonia production.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Mineral oxyacid |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Nitrate (oxidising) group |
| Reactivity | Strong oxidiser; neutralises with bases to form nitrate salts |
| Related compounds | Ammonia (feedstock); Ammonium Nitrate, Adipic Acid (derivatives) |
Explore the wider inorganic range
Nitric Acid, answered
What is Nitric Acid used for?
How is nitric acid related to ammonia?
Is Nitric Acid hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Nitric Acid today
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