nitric

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to nitrogen, especially nitrogen in a relatively high oxidation state

   The technician added dilute nitric acid to dissolve the metal sample.

2. 2
   noun

   dated or informal in chemistry: nitric acid

   The old laboratory ledger referred simply to a bottle of strong nitric.

From French nitrique, formed from nitre or nitro- + -ic. Nitric acid was historically understood through its connection with saltpeter or nitre; modern chemistry uses nitric for compounds in which nitrogen has the higher oxidation state, contrasting especially with nitrous.

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