Which of the following is the correct name for the acid with the formula HNO3?

• A. Hydronitric acid
• B. Nitric acid
• C. Nitrous acid
• D. Nitrate acid

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula given: HNO3.
2. Recognize that HNO3 is an acid composed of hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O).
3. Recall the naming conventions for oxyacids: acids containing oxygen are named based on the polyatomic ion they contain. For example, acids with the polyatomic ion ending in '-ate' are named with the suffix '-ic acid'.
4. Determine the polyatomic ion in HNO3, which is nitrate (NO3^-). Since the ion is nitrate, the acid name will be 'nitric acid'.
5. Confirm that 'nitric acid' is the correct name for HNO3, while 'nitrous acid' corresponds to HNO2, and the other options are incorrect or not standard names.