NITRIC ACID
SYNONYMS:
ACIDE
NITRIQUE (French); ACIDO NITRICO (Spanish); ALUMINUM ETCH 16-1-1-2; ALUMINUM
ETCH 82-3-15-0; AQUA FORTIS; AQUA REGIA; AZOTIC ACID; C-P 8 SOLUTION; CHROME
ETCH KTI; COPPER, BRASS BRITE DIP 127; COPPER, BRASS BRITE DIP 1127; COPPERLITE
RD-25; DOPED POLY ETCH; EEC No. 007-004-01-9; EINECS No. 231-714-2; ENGRAVERS
ACID; FRECKLE ETCH; HYDROGEN NITRATE; KOVAR BRIGHT DIP (412X); KOVAR BRIGHT DIP
(RDX-555); KTI ALUMINUM ETCH I; KTI ALUMINUM ETCH II; KTI ALUMINUM ETCH III;
KTI CHROME ETCH; MAE ETCHANTS; MIXED ACID ETCH (5-2-2); MIXED ACID ETCH
(6-1-1-); NITAL; NITRALINE; NF SOLDER STRIPPER 3114-B; NITRIC ACID, RED FUMING;
NITRIC ACID, WHITE FUMING; NITROUS FUMES; NITRYL HYDROXIDE; PASSIVATION
SOLUTION; PATCLIN 958; POLY ETCH 95%; RED FUMING NITRIC ACID; RFNA; RT-2
STRIPPING SOLUTION; SALPETERSAURE (German); SILICON ETCH SOLUTION; SOLDER STRIP
NP-A; STRESS RELIEF ETCH; WET KETCH; WFNA; WHITE FUMING NITRIC ACID
IDENTIFICATION:
CAS:
7697-37-2
DOT ID:
UN2031
(other than red fuming, with not > 70% nitric acid); UN2032 (red fuming)
Hazard Class or Division:
8 (CORROSIVE MATERIAL)
ERG Guide:
157
Formula:
HNO3
- H2O
RTECS No:
QU5775000
(up to 70%); QU5900000 (more than 70%)
Properties:
Pale
yellow, reddish brown liquid; red fuming liquid when concentrated. Acrid,
suffocating odor. Sinks and mixes (violently) with water; giving off heat.
Highly toxic nitrogen oxides produced when heated. Vapors are heavier than air;
will collect in low areas. An oxidizer.
Uses:
Patinating;
electropolishing; photoengraving and other metal etching; in jewelry
manufacturing; in metallurgy and engineering. A solder stripper.
HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
• IDLH:
25
ppm/65.5 mg/m3
• Odor threshold:
0.71 mg/m3
• NIOSH Criteria Document
: NIOSH 76-141
•
Poisonous. Inhaling the vapor can cause death. Skin and eye contact causes
severe burns and blindness. 58–68% vapor is moderately irritating such that
personnel will not usually tolerate moderate or high vapor concentrations. 95%
vapor cause severe irritation of eye and throat and can cause eye and lung
injury. Lung edema may delayed. Liquid is a severe skin irritant. Causes second
and third-degree burns on short contact and is very injurious to the eyes.
Chronic contact may cause skin sensitization. Chronic inhalation of mists or
vapors can cause tooth erosion, bronchitis, lung inflammation, skin irritation,
asthma and lung damage. A human carcinogen. Based on animal tests, this
chemical may be a reproduction toxin.
Exposure Limits:
•
ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm TWA; 4 ppm STEL
•
OSHA PEL: 2 ppm/5 mg/m3 TWA
•
NIOSH REL: 2 ppm/5 mg/m3 TWA; 4 ppm/10 mg/m3 STEL
•
DFG MAK: 2 ppm/5.2 mg/m3
Respirator:
25
ppm:
SA:CF (any supplied-air
respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode) CCRFS [any chemical cartridge
respirator with a full facepiece and cartridge(s) providing protection against
the compound of concern] GMFS [any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator
(gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing
protection against the compound of concern] SCBAF (any selfcontained breathing
apparatus with a full facepiece) SAF (any supplied-air respirator with a full
facepiece).
Emergency
or Planned Entry into Unknown Concentrations or IDLH Conditions
SCBAF:PD,PP (any self-contained breathing
apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or
other positive-pressure mode) SAF:PD,PP:ASCBA (any supplied-air respirator that
has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other
positivepressure mode in combination with an auxiliary selfcontained breathing
apparatus operated in a pressuredemand or other positive pressure mode.
Escape:
GMFS
[any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style,
front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of
concern] SCBAE (any appropriate escape-type, selfcontained breathing
apparatus).
Note 1:
Substance reported to cause
eye irritation or damage; may require eye protection.
Note 2:
Only nonoxidizable sorbents are allowed (
not charcoal
).
Reactivity:
A
strong oxidizer that can react violently with reducing agents, strong bases, or
combustible materials. Incompatible with many substances including acrylates,
aliphatic amines, alcohols, aldehydes, alkanolamines, alkylene oxides, anion
exchange resins, aromatic amines, amides, cresols, cyanides, cyclic ketones,
epichlorohydrin, glycols, isocyanates, ketones, oleum, organic anhydrides, phenols,
substituted allyls, sulfuric acid, strong oxidizers, and terpenes. Attacks some
plastics, rubber, and coatings. Corrosive to most metals releasing highly
flammablehydrogen gas. Never pour water into this substance; when dissolving
or diluting always slowly add this material to the water.
FIRE INFORMATION:
Fire fighting gear, including SCBA, does not provide adequate
protection. If exposure occurs, remove and isolate gear immediately and
thoroughly decontaminate personnel. If material or contaminated runoff enters
waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated water.
Hazard Classifications:
FUMING
(UN2032)
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Special situations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . OXY
MORE
THAN 40% (UN2031)
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Special situations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . OXY
40%
OR LESS (NA 1760)
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FIRST AID:
Move
victim to fresh air. Call emergency medical care. Apply artificial respiration
if victim is not breathing. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested
or inhaled the substance; induce artificial respiration with the aid of a
pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical
device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate
contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately
flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin
contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim warm and
quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact) may be
delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved,
and take precautions to protect themselves.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
Clean
Water Act: Section 311 Hazardous Substances/RQ (same as CERCLA);Section 313
Priority Chemicals. EPCRA Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances: TPQ =
1000 lb (454 kg) EPCRA Section 304: Reportable Quantity (RQ): CERCLA, 1000 lb
(454 kg) EPCRA Section 313: Form R
de
minimis
concentration
reporting level: 1.0%
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
Nitric acid, concentration > 80%:
•
Clean Air Act: Accidental Release Prevention/Flammable substances, (Section
112[r], Table 3), TQ = 15,000 lb (1,362 kg).
•
EPCRA Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances: TPQ = 1000 lb (454 kg)
•
EPCRA Section 304: Reportable Quantity (RQ): CERCLA, 1000 lb (454 kg)
•
EPCRA Section 313: Form R
de
minimis
concentration
reporting level: 1.0%.
•
EPA Best Practical Control Technology Limits for Metal Finishing Effluent: pH,
Maximum 1 day: 6.0–9.5; Daily average/30 consecutive days: 6.0–9.5
•
California LOL: DEGLMNQ
•
WHMIS, Ingredients Disclosure List (Canada): 1%