aquafortis

A scientist carefully pours aquafortis into a glass beaker.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Nitric acid: "aquafortis" is a historical term for nitric acid (HNO₃), a highly corrosive and strong mineral acid. It was commonly used in alchemy and engraving for its ability to dissolve metals, especially silver and copper.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The alchemist used aquafortis to separate gold from other metals. (Nitric acid was used in a chemical process.)
  • Engravers in the 18th century relied on aquafortis to etch intricate designs into copper plates. (The acid was used for etching.)

Advanced Usage

• "to bite with aquafortis": a historical phrase referring to the etching process in printmaking, where the acid "bites" into the metal surface.
  • The artist prepared the copper plate by biting it with aquafortis to create fine lines. (The acid corroded the metal to form grooves.)

Variants and Related Words

• Aqua fortis (alternative spelling): the same term, often written as two words in older texts.
  • The recipe called for aqua fortis to be mixed with salt. (Nitric acid combined with salt.)

Synonyms

• Nitric acid: the modern chemical name for the same substance.
• Spirit of nitre: an older alchemical term for nitric acid.

Related Idioms

• Strong as aquafortis: an archaic simile meaning extremely powerful or corrosive, used metaphorically.
  • Her criticism was as strong as aquafortis, leaving no reputation intact. (Her criticism was harsh and destructive.)

Additional Notes

• Historical context: "Aquafortis" (from Latin , meaning "strong water") was a key reagent in alchemy, metallurgy, and early chemistry. It was distinct from ("royal water"), a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids used to dissolve gold.