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Glite Dictionary
aqua regia

aqua regia

9.9
A very strong mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid that can dissolve gold and platinum
  • noun
  • /ˈækwə ˈreɪdʒə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : agua regia
  • The chemist demonstrated how aqua regia can break down metals that are typically resistant to acids.

Examples

  • The acid caused the black precipitate to form in a solution of gold in Aqua regia, right?

  • Add 10 cc of Aqua Regia.

    Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

  • A aqua regia is often used in laboratories to dissolve gold and other precious metals.

  • When combined with certain metals, aqua regia produces toxic fumes that must be handled with care.

Synonyms

nitrohydrochloric acid
vsaqua regia
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong yellow liquid that gives off toxic fumes and dissolves metals like gold and platinum

is the general name that states composition without physical appearance detail

Surface Forms

aqua regia singular
aqua regiae plural

Morphology

aqua + regia

The components are Latin (aqua = water, regia = royal), so even if a learner could translate them as 'royal water' that label does not transparently indicate a corrosive acid mixture or its property of dissolving gold. The term is a specialized, historically rooted technical name used in chemistry, so its specific meaning is idiomatic and not predictable from the parts for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Aqua regia comes from old Latin and literally means 'royal water', with aqua = water and regia = royal. Old chemists called this fierce, very strong liquid that because it can 'dissolve' gold, the metal of kings, so the name helps you remember it eats noble metals like gold and platinum.