Aqua Regia

Aqua regia is a highly corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, capable of dissolving gold and platinum. This powerful chemical solution has potential applications in terraforming for metal extraction and processing.

Composition

• Nitric acid (HNO₃): 1 part
• Hydrochloric acid (HCl): 3 parts
• Reaction product: Chlorine and nitrogen oxides
• "Royal water": Name meaning, due to ability to dissolve "noble" metals

Terraforming Applications

Metal Processing

• Gold extraction from planetary ores
• Platinum recovery for catalytic systems
• Precious metal recycling from electronic components
• Chemical analysis of planetary samples

Industrial Chemistry

• Catalyst preparation for chemical processes
• Surface etching for semiconductor manufacturing
• Chemical synthesis reactions
• Ore processing for rare earth elements

Safety and Handling

• Highly corrosive - requires specialized equipment
• Toxic fumes - proper ventilation essential
• Reactive mixture - must be used fresh
• Waste treatment - neutralization required

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