Aqua Regia (Noun)
Meaning
A yellow fuming corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid that dissolves metals (including gold).
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The jeweler carefully poured a small amount of aqua regia into the beaker to dissolve the gold alloy.
- Aqua regia was used to extract gold from the ore, but the process was extremely hazardous.
- The laboratory equipment was heavily corroded due to accidental exposure to aqua regia.
- The chemist donned protective gear before handling the aqua regia, knowing its potency.
- In the Middle Ages, alchemists believed that aqua regia held the key to transforming base metals into gold.