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
Maleic acid Maleic acid Maleic acid or "cis"-butenedioic acid is an organic compound that is a dicarboxylic acid, a molecule with two carboxyl groups. Its chemical formula is HOCCH=CHCOH. Maleic acid is the "cis"-isomer of butenedioic acid, whereas fumaric acid is the "trans"-isomer. It is mainly used as a precursor to fumaric acid, and relative to its parent maleic anhydride, maleic acid has few applications. Maleic acid is a less stable molecule than fumaric acid. The difference in "heat of combustion" is 22.7 kJ/mole. The heat of combustion is -1355 kJ/mole. Maleic acid is more soluble in water than fumaric acid. The