Nitric acid is a clear, colorless liquid with a sharp, penetrating odor, highly soluble in water and capable of reacting violently with organic materials. It is typically produced by the Ostwald process, where ammonia is oxidized to nitric oxide, further converted to nitric acid in a series of catalytic steps.

When shipping nitric acid, containers must be double‑lined with compatible polyethylene and labeled with appropriate hazard symbols; a pH test and a stability certificate are often required by import authorities to confirm that the solution remains within specified concentration limits.