Nitro compounds are a type of organic compound that feature one or more nitro functional groups (−NO2) in organic chemistry. This functional group, which is present in a vast number of compounds, is considered one of the most widespread explosophores used around the world.

Due to its strong electron-withdrawing nature, the nitro group can cause alpha (adjacent) C−H bonds to become acidic. Additionally, while the presence of nitro groups in aromatic compounds slows down electrophilic aromatic substitution, it enhances nucleophilic aromatic substitution.

Nitro groups are a rare occurrence in nature, with their production almost always being the result of nitration reactions initiated by the use of nitric acid.

Nitrobenzene is by far the most extensively produced nitration product, and among the many explosives produced by nitration are picric acid (trinitrophenol), TNT (trinitrotoluene), and styphnic acid (trinitroresorcinol).

Although the nitro group has some applications in pharmaceuticals, it is commonly considered a disadvantage in drug discovery due to its association with mutagenicity and genotoxicity.