Aqua Regia
Demonstration Notes, Warnings, Safety Information
Concentrated strong acids, strong oxidant
Both hydrochloric and nitric acids are strong acids and in this demonstration concentrated acids are used. If they are spilled on the skin, concentrated acids should be washed off immediately with a large quantity of water.
Hydrochloric acid can cause severe burns and permanent blindness. If ingested it burns mucous membranes and can cause circulatory collapse and death. Hydrogen chloride gas is given off by concentrated hydrochloric acid. It causes inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract.
Concentrated nitric acid is a strong acid and a strongly oxidizing acid. It reacts violently with strong reducing agents such as alcohol or turpentine. Ingestion causes burning and corrosion of internal tissues.
These demonstration videos are not meant as tools to teach chemical demonstration techniques. They are meant as a tools for classroom use. Many of the demonstrations present safety hazards or are difficult for an entire class to observe as live demos. If you wish to perform the demonstrations shown here, you should obtain a copy of Shakhashiri's Chemical Demonstrations Vol. 1-4 (1), Gilbert, Alyea, Dutton and Dreisbach's Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry, Vol. I and II (2) and Ellis, Geselbracht, Johnson, Lisensky, and Robinson's Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion (3).
Safety information can be obtained from (4).
Credits for the safety information throughout Chemistry Comes Alive!:
Frank W. Darrow, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850
Kelly Houston Jetzer, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Gery J. Essenmacher, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
David Phillips, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933
John W. Moore, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Citations
1. Shakhashiri. B. Z. Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1983; Vol. 1.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1985; Vol. 2.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1989; Vol. 3.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1992; Vol. 4.
2. Gilbert, G. L.; Alyea, H. N.; Dutton, F. B.; Dreisbach, D. Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry; Denison University and Journal of Chemical Education: Granville, OH, 1994.
3. Ellis, A. B.; Geselbracht, M. J.; Johnson, B. J.; Lisensky, G. C.; Robinson, W. R. Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1993.
4. University of Wisconsin System Administration OSLP EHS MSDS Database; http://www.uwsa.edu/oslp/ehs/msds98-1/ Try this link if you are connected to the web.