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. Also called: nitrohydrochloric acid. 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

aqua regia

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