Nitric acid (CED0000510)

Nitric acid (HNO3) is an exogenous inorganic compound with an average molecular weight of 63.01 g/mol. It exists as a liquid at room temperature. Nitric acid belongs to the non-metal nitrates, a subclass of non-metal oxoanionic compounds within the inorganic compounds. This compound serves as a reagent and a protic solvent, and is utilized industrially as an acid, a pH regulating agent, a degradant/impurity, and as processing aids not otherwise specified (PMC9328863). It is used in the production of Polyamide. Nitric acid is found in or released from 62 recorded sources, including household cleaning and consumer products such as bleaching agents, perfumes within detergents and soaps, and non-electric simulated smoking devices; food, food processing and cookware, including the preparation of vinegar, preparation of malt, food preservation, and fermentation processes for beer; building and construction materials such as tents or canopies, ceilings, and fencing; electrical and electronic equipment including antennas, amplifiers, and adjustable resistors; and household items such as watch chains and credit card holders. Nitric acid has nine recorded protein targets, including hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA1) and hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB). Regarding these targets, nitrite causes the autocatalytic oxidation of oxyhemoglobin to hydrogen peroxide and methemoglobin, leading to a condition known as methemoglobinemia characterized by tissue hypoxia because methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen. Other recorded protein targets include carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1), carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2), carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4), carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6), and three additional proteins.