Nitric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula HNO₃. It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. Most commercially available nitric acid has a concentration of 69% in water.
Nitric acid is not only a strong acid, it is also a powerful oxidiser, able to break down fat and protein to carbon dioxide and water so that eventually they dissolve fish or flesh without trace.