Peroxynitrous acid
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Peroxynitrous acid | |
| Systematic IUPAC name (Hydridodioxido)oxidonitrogen | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| 49207 | |
| MeSH | Peroxynitrous+Acid | 
| PubChem CID | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
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| Properties | |
| NHO 3 | |
| Molar mass | 63.0128 g mol−1 | 
| Conjugate base | Peroxynitrite | 
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds | |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
Peroxynitrous acid (HNO3) is a reactive nitrogen species (RNS). It is the conjugate acid of peroxynitrite (ONOO−). It has a pKa of approximately 6.8.  It is formed in vivo from the diffusion-controlled reaction of nitrogen monoxide (ON•) and superoxide (O•−
2). It is an isomer of nitric acid and isomerises with a rate constant of k = 1.2 s−1, a process whereby up to 5% of hydroxyl and nitrogen dioxide radicals may be formed. It oxidises and nitrates aromatic compounds in low yield. The mechanism may involve a complex between the aromatic compound and ONOOH, and a transition from the cis- to the trans-configuration of ONOOH. Peroxynitrous acid is also important in atmospheric chemistry.