Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for nitric acid?

• A. HNO3
• B. H2SO4
• C. HNO2
• D. HClO3

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that nitric acid is a common strong acid used in chemistry, and its chemical formula is composed of hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) atoms.
2. Recall that the name 'nitric acid' corresponds to the acid derived from the nitrate ion (NO3-), which means the acid formula will include one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms bonded with hydrogen.
3. Compare the given options to identify which formula contains one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms along with hydrogen, matching the nitrate ion structure.
4. Eliminate options that do not fit the nitrate ion pattern: H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), HNO2 (nitrous acid), and HClO3 (chloric acid) each have different central atoms or oxygen counts.
5. Conclude that the correct formula for nitric acid is HNO3, as it correctly represents one hydrogen atom, one nitrogen atom, and three oxygen atoms.