Royal water, or better known for its Latin name Aqua regia, is a fuming, corrosive liquid solution first invented by an Arab alchemist back in the 8th century. It is a mixture of one part of nitric ...

Acids are reactive, and even weak acids like vinegar can wow students with their reactivity. But strong acids can really put on a show, dissolving otherwise relatively inert metals. And aqua regia, or ...