[ballhog128]

I dont know where to get nitric acid for a science experiment that id like to do at home.

[jdurg]

There's a good reason for that.  It's a HIGHLY reactive chemical and produces incredibly toxic fumes no matter what you are doing with it.  It is also a vital component for explosives productions, so it is highly regulated and closely watched.  Whatever "home experiment" you're doing can be done using other commonly available acids like sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid.  Unless, of course, what you're doing is making an explosive.  If making an explosive is what you are doing, then you will not get the answers here.  We're here to help people learn, not become terrorists.

[ballhog128]

Yeah i looked into it last night and i realized my mistake...
its my first year in chemisty and i dont know what things do yet... but im learning every day

Thanks man

[jdurg]

No problem.  I'm happy to see that you understand and you aren't just someone looking for instructions on how to make a bomb.    Stick around and you'll learn a lot from this place.  

[ballhog128]

I plan on sticking around for a long time... i havent gotten 2 days of homework done cuz ive been here

and if i even tried to make a bomb... my dad would have my ass

P.S. im 16

[jdurg]

Heh heh.  Nothing like the fear of the parents to keep ya in yer place.    

[billnotgatez]

Nitric Acid

The below listed sites are a few results using GOOGLE. My recollection is that Sulfuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, and Nitric Acid were common in high school laboratories, since all were mentioned in reactions studied. Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, and Ammonium Hydroxide were the typical bases in that same laboratory.
It seems to me that a hobbyist chemist should have these on hand as well.

The first link below shows how one can get in trouble with nitric acid.
 

http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA3/MAIN/PENITRA/PAGE1.HTM
http://www.nsc.org/library/chemical/Nitric_A.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitric_acid
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/N3660.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0835736.html
http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/summary.tcl?edf_substance_id=7697-37-2
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ni/nitricac.html
http://www.cheresources.com/nitricacid.shtml
http://www.efma.org/Publications/BAT%202000/Bat02/index.asp
http://vpl.ipac.caltech.edu/spectra/hno3.htm
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA3/MAIN/PENITRA/PAGE1.HTM
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/applications/chemical.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/n1/nitricac.asp

Please note that Nitric Acid is dangerous stuff.

Regards,
Bill

[hmx9123]

I deleted your post on how to make nitric acid, because there really is no point to it in this thread.

[billnotgatez]

The post I made was very general and not specific enough for production, but do what you must. Any competent person doing a google search will understand how to create nitric acid. And I reiterate that any citizen scientist doing chemistry should have in their laboratory the following.

Sulfuric Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Nitric Acid
Sodium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide
Ammonium hydroxide

All of which are dangerous.

Regards,
Bill