HNO3, also known as nitric acid, is a strong acid. This means that it completely dissociates in water, releasing hydrogen ions (H+) into the solution. The dissociation of HNO3 in water can be represented by the following equation:
HNO3 → H+ + NO3-
Because HNO3 fully dissociates, it is considered a strong acid. Strong acids like HNO3 have a high concentration of hydrogen ions, which makes them highly reactive and capable of donating protons easily. This property is what distinguishes strong acids from weak acids, which only partially dissociate in water.