What are the differences between nitric acid and nitrous acid in terms of their chemical properties and applications?

Nitric acid is a strong acid with the chemical formula HNO3, while nitrous acid has the formula HNO2 and is a weaker acid. Nitric acid is commonly used in the production of fertilizers, explosives, and cleaning agents, while nitrous acid is used in organic synthesis and as a reagent in chemical reactions. Nitric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent, while nitrous acid is a mild oxidizing agent.