- This is a historical article. For current information, see Nitric acid
] ] In
alchemy,
aqua fortis (
Latin for "strong water") is
nitric acid (HNO
3). Being highly
corrosive, the solution was used in alchemy for dissolving
silver and most other metals with the notable exception of
gold, which can 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.