Nitric acid (HNO3) has several uses across various industries:
# Industrial Applications
1. *Fertilizer production*: Nitric acid is used to produce ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer.
2. *Explosives manufacturing*: It's used to produce explosives like TNT and nitroglycerin.
3. *Metal etching and cleaning*: Nitric acid is used to etch and clean metals, particularly copper and stainless steel.
# Laboratory and Research
1. *Analytical chemistry*: Nitric acid is used as a reagent in various analytical techniques.
2. *Synthesis of compounds*: It's used as a reactant in the synthesis of various compounds.
# Other Applications
1. *Pickling and passivation*: Nitric acid is used to remove impurities and oxide layers from metal surfaces.
2. *Waste treatment*: It's used to treat industrial waste and neutralize alkaline substances.