‖ aqua regia
(ˌeɪkwəˈriːdʒɪə)
Also aqua regis.
[L.; = royal water.]
A mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, so called because it can dissolve the ‘noble’ metals, gold and platinum.
| 1594 [see subtiliate v.]. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. ii. v, What's cohobation? 'Tis the pouring on Your aqua regis, and then drawing him off. 1641 French Distill. iii. (1651) 70 Aqua regia, or Stygia..will dissolve Gold. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 275 Gold trichloride, obtained when gold is dissolved in aqua regia. |