Nitric acid (HNO3) is classified as a strong electrolyte. This means that when it is dissolved in water, it completely dissociates into its ions, which are H+ and NO3–. The complete ionization contributes to its ability to conduct electricity effectively in solution.
In contrast, weak electrolytes partially dissociate into ions, resulting in a lower conductivity, while non-electrolytes do not dissociate at all and therefore do not conduct electricity. Since HNO3 fully ionizes in aqueous solution, it falls under the category of strong electrolytes, making it very effective for applications that require good ionic conductivity.