What does aqua fortis mean?

Definitions for aqua fortis
aqua for·tis

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word aqua fortis.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. nitric acid, aqua fortisnoun

    acid used especially in the production of fertilizers and explosives and rocket fuels

Wiktionary

  1. aqua fortisnoun

    Nitric acid.

  2. aqua fortisnoun

    A corrosive liquor made of saltpeter, serving as a solvent for dissolving silver and all other metals except gold.

  3. Etymology: aqua (water) + fortis (strong)

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. AQUA FORTIS

    A corrosive liquor made by distilling purified nitre with calcined vitriol, or rectified oil of vitriol in a strong heat: the liquor, which rises in fumes red as blood, being collected, is the spirit of nitre or aqua fortis; which serves as a menstruum for dissolving of silver, and all other metals, except gold. But if sea salt, or sal ammoniack, be added to aqua fortis, it commences aqua regia, and will then dissolve no metal but gold. Aqua fortis is commonly held to have been invented about the year 1300; though others will have it to have been known in the time of Moses. It is serviceable to refiners, in separating silver from gold and copper; to the workers in mosaick, for staining and colouring their woods; to dyers, in their colours, particularly scarlet; and to other artists, for colouring bone and ivory. With aqua fortis bookbinders marble the covers of books, and diamond cutters separate diamonds from metalline powders. It is also used in etching copper or brass plates. Ephraim Chambers

    Etymology: Latin.

    The dissolving of silver in aqua fortis, and gold in aqua regia, and not vice versâ, would not be difficult to know. John Locke.

Wikipedia

  1. aqua fortis

    Nitric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula HNO3. It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. Most commercially available nitric acid has a concentration of 68% in water. When the solution contains more than 86% HNO3, it is referred to as fuming nitric acid. Depending on the amount of nitrogen dioxide present, fuming nitric acid is further characterized as red fuming nitric acid at concentrations above 86%, or white fuming nitric acid at concentrations above 95%. Nitric acid is the primary reagent used for nitration – the addition of a nitro group, typically to an organic molecule. While some resulting nitro compounds are shock- and thermally-sensitive explosives, a few are stable enough to be used in munitions and demolition, while others are still more stable and used as pigments in inks and dyes. Nitric acid is also commonly used as a strong oxidizing agent.

ChatGPT

  1. aqua fortis

    Aqua fortis is a Latin term that translates to "strong water." It was historically used to refer to nitric acid, a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid. The term was used by alchemists and early chemists.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Aqua fortis

    nitric acid

  2. Etymology: [L., strong water.]

Wikidata

  1. Aqua fortis

    Aqua fortis, or "fortified water," in alchemy, is nitric acid. Being highly corrosive, the solution was used in alchemy for dissolving silver and most other metals with the notable exception of gold, which can only be dissolved using aqua regia or "regal water". Aqua fortis was prepared by mixing either sand, alum, or vitriol, or the last two together, with saltpeter, then distilling it by a hot fire. The gas collected from this condenses into aqua fortis. It was first described by alchemist Pseudo-Geber. Aqua fortis was useful to refiners for parting or separating silver from gold and copper; to the workers in mosaic for staining and coloring their woods; to other artists for coloring of bone and ivory, which is done by tinging the items with copper or verdigris, then soaking in aqua fortis. Some also turn it into aqua regia, by dissolving in a quarter of its weight of sal ammoniac, and then use this to stain ivory and bone, of a fine purple color. Book binders also put it on leather, making fine marble covers for books. Diamond cutters used it to separate diamonds from metalline powders. It was also used in etching copper or brass plates. It was mixed with oil of vitriol and used to stain canes to appear like a tortoise shell by applying several coats while the cane is over hot coals. The canes were then given a gloss with a little soft wax and a dry cloth.

Suggested Resources

  1. aqua fortis

    The aqua fortis symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the aqua fortis symbol and its characteristic.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of aqua fortis in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of aqua fortis in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1


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"aqua fortis." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/aqua+fortis>.

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