Nitric acid has a wide range of uses, with the most prominent being its role in the production of fertilizers, especially ammonium nitrate, which consumes about 75-80% of the nitric acid produced globally. It is also crucial in manufacturing explosives like TNT and nitroglycerin, acting as a nitro group donor in organic synthesis. Additionally, nitric acid is used in metal processing for refining and purifying metals, including gold and silver, often as part of aqua regia. It has applications in etching and cleaning metals and electronic components, as a chemical reagent in laboratories, and even in rocket propulsion as an oxidizer. Other uses include wood finishing, production of dyes and polymers such as nylon, and reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

Major Uses of Nitric Acid

• Fertilizer production (ammonium nitrate)
• Explosives manufacture (e.g., TNT, nitroglycerin)
• Metal refining and purification (including noble metals)
• Etching and cleaning in metalworking and electronics
• Laboratory reagent and cleaning agent
• Rocket propellant oxidizer
• Wood finishing and artificial aging
• Production of polymers and dyes
• Nuclear fuel reprocessing

These broad applications highlight nitric acid's importance across agriculture, industry, defense, and scientific research.