Nitric acid - very important substance, important mineral acid is also necessary. On total production it concedes only a chamois. In industrial production 2 grades are used:
- Diluted (contains 50-60% of HNO3);
- Concentrated (contains 96-98% of HNO3).
Production of nitric acid
Nitric acid is made literally from water from air with ammonia participation. All components are carefully filtered and cleared of impurity, both firm, and gaseous.
The modern chemical industry makes nitric acid by means of catalytic oxidation of ammonia the oxygen which is contained in air. Use of the catalyst allows to receive NO which is easily passing into NO2. And it in turn in connection with water in the presence of oxygen of air gives as a result nitric acid. As the catalyst in this case serve alloys on the basis of platinum.
As a result of production nitric acid which concentration does not exceed 60% turns out. Further there is a process of concentration to 97-98% and the so-called "smoking" nitric acid is formed. At a temperature below 41C substance of crystal structure will be transformed in colourless.
Properties of nitric acid
Nitric acid active and even aggressive oxidizer of organic and inorganic substances. Is interesting the fact that in the diluted look it oxidizes all metals, except for platinum, silver, rhodium and iridium, literally dissolves iron! And in the concentrated state nitric acid passivates metals. On a surface of metal the thin, but strong layer of oxide which is not dissolved further is formed and protects metal from corrosion. The concentrated nitric acid is very toxic and emits poisonous gases (nitrogen oxides) on air. The concentrated nitric acid has to be stored in a tight container in the cool and dark place since on light and under the influence of heat partially decays!
Nitric acid from the point of view of practical application
About a half of the made nitric acid goes for receiving nitrogen mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen - necessary for life and development of plants an element. But in a free look it is inaccessible to plants and can be acquired by them only in the form of the salts of nitric acid called by nitrates. In the course of land use the nitrogen reserve in the soil gradually is exhausted and needs replenishment. From nitric acid receive the fertilizers called by saltpeter. The most popular of them - sodium (or Chilean) saltpeter and potash saltpeter.
Except fertilizers nitric acid goes for production of various synthetic dyes and nitrovarnishes. It is used for production of plastic and explosives, and also medicines, for production of sulfuric acid, as a fuel oxidizer in rocketry, etc.
The "East Chemical Company — Baku" company realizes the technical, weak, concentrated and not concentrated nitric acid at favorable cost.