Physical property
The pure HNO3 is a kind of colorless liquid. It has a pungent odor. The density is about 1.4g/cm3, boiling point is 83°C. It is corrosive and easy to volatilize and dissolve in water with any ratio. The mass fraction of 98% or more is called “Smoke---free nitric acid”. Because it is easy to volatilize and form white smoke when mixed with humid air.
Chemical property
(1) It is a strong acid.
(2) Instability. The appearance of concentrated nitric acid is yellow because it can decomposition NO2 after dissolving. It usually be stored in brown reagent bottle( to protect from light) and kept in dark cold place.
(3) Strong oxidizing property
Application
Nitric acid is an important chemical material and an important reagent in laboratory. It is used in industries like: chemical fertilizer, agricultural chemical, dynamite, dyestuff and salt etc.
Risks
It can be decomposition and form toxic gas when heated; strong oxidizer, it can sharply react or explore with combustible and reducing substances. It is an strong acid and can sharply react with alkali. It can corrode most of metal(except aluminum and its alloy) and form nitrogen oxide. It can sharply react with many common used organics and cause fire and explosion danger.