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Nitric vs Nitrous - What's the difference?

nitric | nitrous |

As adjectives the difference between nitric and nitrous

is that nitric is of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen while nitrous is of, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species.

As a noun nitrous is

nitrous oxide.

nitric

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen.

    • Derived terms

    * hydronitric acid * nitric acid * nitric ether * nitric oxide * sulfonitric acid, sulphonitric acid

    nitrous

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (chemistry) of, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species
  • (chemistry) of, or relating to nitrous acid or its derivatives
  • (mycology, biology) having a sharp odor like ammonia or nitric acid

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (dentistry, informal) Nitrous oxide.