aqua regia

/'ækwə'ri:dʤjə/

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Word: Aqua Regia

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Aqua regia is a special chemical mixture made from two strong acids: nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It is known for its ability to dissolve metals, including gold, which many other substances cannot do. The name "aqua regia" comes from Latin, meaning "royal water," because it can dissolve even the most precious metals.

Usage Instructions:

• Aqua regia is primarily used in chemistry and metal refining. It is not something you would use in everyday conversation, but you might encounter it in scientific discussions or when learning about chemistry.

Example Sentence:

• "The chemist used aqua regia to dissolve the gold from the old jewelry, allowing her to recover the valuable metal."

Advanced Usage:

In advanced scientific contexts, you might discuss the specific proportions of nitric and hydrochloric acid used to create aqua regia, or its applications in analytical chemistry and metallurgy.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "aqua regia," but it can be referred to as a "chemical mixture" or "acidic solution" in broader terms.

Different Meaning:

Aqua regia does not have different meanings in common usage. It is a specific term used in chemistry.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "aqua regia," as it refers to a unique chemical solution. However, you might refer to it descriptively as "a strong acid mixture" in some contexts.

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "aqua regia," as it is a technical term. However, you might hear phrases like "to dissolve in acid" when talking about chemical reactions.

Summary:

Aqua regia is a powerful chemical solution used in laboratories and industries for its ability to dissolve metals like gold.

Academic

Noun

1. a yellow fuming corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid that dissolves metals (including gold)

Synonyms

• nitrohydrochloric acid