Peroxynitrite is an oxidant and nitrating agent. It is hygroscopic, and is a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent. Bloede was determined to manufacture aniline by nitrating benzene to form nitrobenzene, followed by reduction. The Raman-active symmetrical stretch was first used to identify the ion in nitrating mixtures. Nitrating cellulose is an extremely flammable process in which even factory explosions are not uncommon.