Nitric acid fuming nitric acid at concentrations above 86%. Nitric acid is the primary reagent used for nitration – the addition of a nitro group, typically to an organic molecule. While some resulting nitro compounds are shock- and thermally-sensitive explosives, a few are stable enough to be used in munitions and demolition, while others are still more stable and used as pigments in inks and dyes. Nitric acid is also commonly used as a strong oxidizing agent. Commercially available nitric acid is an azeotrope with water at a concentration of 68% HNO, which is the ordinary concentrated nitric acid of commerce. This
Pentafluorobenzoic acid Pentafluorobenzoic acid Pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA) is an organofluorine compound with the formula CFCOH. It is a white crystalline powder that has a high solubility in water. Its pK of 1.48 indicates that it is a strong acid. Pentafluorobenzoic acid is prepared by treating pentafluorophenyllithium (or pentafluorophenyl Grignard reagent) with carbon dioxide. These reagents are usually prepared in situ from pentafluorobenzene and bromopentafluorobenzene. It arises via the reaction of perfluorotoluene with trifluoroacetic acid and antimony pentafluoride. Substitution of fluoride occurs typically at the para position. This reaction has been used to anchor the −CFCOH group to surfaces. Magnesium methoxide results in