aqua regia

3 definitions found

aqua regia - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nitrohydrochloric \Ni`tro*hy`dro*chlo"ric\, a. [Nitro- +
     hydrochloric.] (Chem.)
     Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitric and hydrochloric
     acids.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Nitrohydrochloric acid, a mixture of nitric and
        hydrochloric acids, usually in the proportion of one part
        of the former to three of the latter, and remarkable for
        its solvent action on gold and platinum; -- called also
        aqua regia, and nitromuriatic acid.
        [1913 Webster]

  Aqua \A"qua\, n. [L. See Ewer.]
     Water; -- a word much used in pharmacy and the old chemistry,
     in various signification, determined by the word or words
     annexed.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Aqua ammoni[ae], the aqueous solution of ammonia; liquid
        ammonia; often called aqua ammonia.
  
     Aqua marine, or Aqua marina. Same as Aquamarine.
  
     Aqua regia. [L., royal water] (Chem.), a very corrosive
        fuming yellow liquid consisting of nitric and hydrochloric
        acids. It has the power of dissolving gold, the "royal"
        metal.
  
     Aqua Tofana, a fluid containing arsenic, and used for
        secret poisoning, made by an Italian woman named Tofana,
        in the middle of the 17th century, who is said to have
        poisoned more than 600 persons. --Francis.
  
     Aqua vit[ae][L., water of life. Cf. Eau de vie,
        Usquebaugh], a name given to brandy and some other
        ardent spirits. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

aqua regia - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  aqua regia
      n 1: a yellow fuming corrosive mixture of nitric and
           hydrochloric acid that dissolves metals (including gold)
           [syn: aqua regia, nitrohydrochloric acid]