Question

Explain nitric acid stains the skin yellow.

Answer 1

• Nitric acid stains the skin yellow due to the reaction between nitric acid with the protein called keratin which is present in the human skin.
• The reaction is known as the xanthoproteic reaction.
• In the reaction yellow colour nitrated products called xanthoproteic acid are formed.
• Nitric acid can cause severe burns, or scars to the skin as it is corrosive in nature.