No, nitric acid does not behave as a base. Nitric acid (HNO3) is a strong acid, not a base. Acids and bases are defined by their behavior in aqueous solutions. According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a substance that donates a hydrogen ion (H+), while a base is a substance that accepts a hydrogen ion. Nitric acid donates a hydrogen ion when dissolved in water, making it an acid.