Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent that is colorless and highly corrosive. It is produced industrially via the Ostwald process, which involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide using a platinum catalyst and air, followed by the oxidation of nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide and its absorption in water to form nitric acid. Nitric acid has a variety of uses including as a fertilizer component and nitrating agent for explosives. Hydrochloric acid is also a strong corrosive acid that is produced from chlorination byproducts or by reacting metallic chlorides with sulfuric acid. It is used in a variety of industrial processes.