nitric, a. Chiefly Chem.
(ˈnaɪtrɪk)
[ad. F. nitrique (app. first in acide nitrique, 1787): see nitre n. and -ic.]
Of or pertaining to, derived from, nitre. (In Chem. distinguished from nitrous: see -ic 1 b.)
1. a. nitric acid, a highly corrosive and caustic acid (HNO3), which is usually obtained by treating potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate with sulphuric acid, and in its pure state is a clear colourless liquid with a very pungent smell and acrid taste; as used in the arts for dissolving metals, etc., it is commonly known as aquafortis.
| 1794 Phil. Trans. LXXXIV. 421 Nitric acid added to the solution of that substance in muriatic acid, occasioned a decomposition. 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 119 This property of the nitric acid to produce so intense a cold with ice. 1851 Richardson Geol. vi. 135 It is easy to ascertain whether a rock be calcareous or not, by applying dilute nitric or sulphuric acid. 1881 R. Routledge Science iii. 63 Nitric acid, which is one of the most important of Geber's discoveries. |
| attrib. and Comb. 1843 Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xxvii. 338 After a few days we proceeded to the use of nitric acid baths. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 1529/1 The nitric-acid furnace consists of a number of parallel..retorts. |
b. nitric oxide, a colourless gas (formerly also called
nitrous gas or
air) obtained by the action of nitric acid on metals,
esp. copper.
| 1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 134 When nitric oxide is converted into nitrous oxide by abstracting a portion of its oxygen. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 446 Nitric oxide (sometimes called nitrous gas)..is composed of 44 parts of nitrogen, and 56 of oxygen by weight. 1876 Encycl. Brit. V. 513/1 Nitric oxide immediately combines with oxygen when mixed with it. |
| attrib. 1821 Ure Dict. Chem. s.v. Laboratory, The diminution produced by the addition of nitric oxide gas. |
c. nitric ether, a compound obtained by the interaction of ethyl alcohol and nitric acid, also called
ethyl nitrate.
| 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 672 Nitrous, or rather nitric ether has a strong ethereal odour... Its taste is strong and peculiar; and its colour slightly yellow. 1831 Davies Mat. Med. 278 Nitric, or rather Nitrous Ether..results from the combination of nitrous acid with alcohol. 1862 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. (ed. 2) 196 Nitric ether is a colourless liquid of an agreeable odour. |
2. In miscellaneous uses.
| 1794 Phil. Trans. LXXXIV. 420 A piece of paper dipped into this nitric solution. 1808 Pike Sources Missis. (1810) App. 5 A species of salt,..strongly impregnated with nitric qualities. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 84 Part of the nitric solution of mercury. 1871 Tyndall Frag. Sci. (1879) I. xiv. 386 The rays..are intercepted by the nitric gas. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 519 Nitric esters, i.e. real nitrates formed from alcohols. |