aqua fortis
"Aqua fortis" is Latin for 'strong water' and has historical significance in both chemistry and alchemy.
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Definition
C1Chemistry
(technical, archaic)A strong, corrosive acid known as nitric acid, used in various chemical reactions.
Example
- In historical texts, aqua fortis was frequently mentioned as a key reagent in chemical experiments.
C2Alchemy
(historical)A corrosive solution made from saltpeter, used to dissolve metals except gold.
Example
- Alchemists used aqua fortis to separate silver from other metals.
C2Dialectal
(dated)A term used to describe strong and potentially dangerous alcoholic beverages.
Example
- In some old taverns, aqua fortis was a term for particularly strong whiskey.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "aqua fortis":