Safety
Nitric acid is a strong acid and a powerful oxidizing agent. The major hazard posed by it is chemical burn as it carries out acid hydrolysis with proteins (amide) and fats (ester) and decomposes living tissues (e.g. skin and flesh) readily. Concentrated nitric acid stains human skin yellow due to its reaction with the keratin. These yellow stains turn orange when neutralized. Systemic effects are unlikely, however, and the substance is not considered a carcinogen or mutagen.
The standard first aid treatment for acid spills on the skin is, as for other corrosive agents, irrigation with large quantities of water. Washing is continued for at least ten to fifteen minutes to cool the tissue surrounding the acid burn and to prevent secondary damage. Contaminated clothing is removed immediately and the underlying skin washed thoroughly.
Being a strong oxidizing agent, reactions of nitric acid with compounds such as cyanides, carbides, metallic powders can be explosive and those with many organic compounds, such as turpentine, are violent and hypergolic (i.e. self-igniting). Hence, it should be stored away from bases and organics.
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—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)