aqua regia

[ ree-jee-uh ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a yellow, fuming liquid composed of one part nitric acid and three to four parts hydrochloric acid: used chiefly to dissolve metals as gold, platinum, or the like.

aqua regia

/ ˈriːdʒɪə /

noun

1. a yellow fuming corrosive mixture of one part nitric acid and three to four parts hydrochloric acid, used in metallurgy for dissolving metals, including gold Also callednitrohydrochloric acid

aqua regia

/ rē′jē-ə,rē′jə /

1. A corrosive, fuming, volatile mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids. Aqua regia is used for testing metals and dissolving platinum and gold.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua regia¹

1600–10; < New Latin: literally, royal water

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua regia¹

C17: from New Latin: royal water; referring to its use in dissolving gold, the royal metal

Example Sentences

But Aureliano spent the money on muriatic add to prepare some aqua regia and he beautified the keys by plating them with gold.

From Literature

As German troops marched in the streets of Copenhagen, chemist George de Hevesy stashed the medals in aqua regia, an acid strong enough to dissolve gold.

From National Geographic

It will appear later, from the method of manufacture, that hydrochloric, nitric, and sulphuric acids and aqua regia were more or less all produced and all included in this term.

From Project Gutenberg

Auric chloride, or gold trichloride, AuCl3, is a dark ruby-red or reddish-brown, crystalline, deliquescent powder obtained by dissolving the metal in aqua regia.

From Project Gutenberg

Cobalt, dissolved in aqua regia, makes an excellent sympathetic ink, appearing green when held to the fire, and disappearing when cold, unless it has been heated too much, when it burns the paper.

From Project Gutenberg