State your observations for: concentrated nitric acid is poured on alcohol

Dear Student

When concentrated nitric acid is poured on alcohol (say ethanol), then the reaction is 

    C₂H₅OH     +     HNO₃         ------>      C₂H₅NO₃     +    H₂O           
    (Ethanol)        (Nitric acid)                (Ethyl nitrate)     (Water)   

Adding these two, will make an explosive mixture (Ethyl nitrate). This occurs by slow acid esterification reaction. Ethyl Nitrate is a highly flammable liquid.

Regards