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PREFERRED TERM

NITRIC ACID  

DEFINITION

  • Nitric Acid (HNO3) is a corrosive, non-volatile, inorganic acid. It is formed by the conversion of nitrogen oxide into nitrogen dioxide, and then into nitric acid, which is highly water soluble. This solubility allows easy removal of nitric acid from the troposphere into rain - commonly referred to as acid rain. Nitric acid has a relatively low concentration in the atmosphere but provides an important role in the production of sulfuric acid by acting as a catalyst in the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid. [T.E Graedel and Paul J. Crutzen. Atmospheric Change: An Earth System Perspective. WH Freeman and Co, NY.1993.]

BROADER CONCEPT

URI

https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/b7bbed0f-24a1-44d8-a10d-92541cd2c05b

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