Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold

Au + 3HCl + HNO3 → HAuCl4 + NO + 2H2O

نظرة عامة

Aqua regia (3:1 mixture of HCl and HNO₃) dissolves gold, which is inert to either acid alone. Nitric acid oxidizes gold to Au³⁺ while hydrochloric acid provides chloride ions that stabilize the gold as [AuCl₄]⁻ complex. The synergy between the two acids makes aqua regia effective against noble metals.

المشاركون

الدور المادة المعامل الحالة
متفاعل Gold Au 1 (s)
متفاعل Nitric Acid HNO₃ 1 (aq)
متفاعل Hydrochloric Acid HCl 3 (aq)
منتج Water H₂O 2 (l)

مثال من الحياة اليومية

During WWII, George de Hevesy dissolved the Nobel Prize gold medals of Max von Laue and James Franck in aqua regia to hide them from the Nazis.

الأهمية الصناعية

Aqua regia is used in gold refining, analytical chemistry for dissolving noble metals, and in recovering precious metals from electronic waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold?
The balanced equation is: Au + 3HCl + HNO₃ → HAuCl₄ + NO + 2H₂O.
What type of reaction is Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold?
Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold is a redox reaction.
Is Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold exothermic or endothermic?
Aqua Regia Dissolving Gold is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -150.0 kJ/mol.