
A strong acid with the formula HNO3 . Nitric acid is produced by the decomposition of cellulose nitrate film by the nitro groups that break off the cellulose chain combining with available water. The free nitric acid attacks the silver metal image causing a fading of the image.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.