Question

Describe the following:
$\left( a \right)$ Aqua fortis
$\left( b \right)$ Aqua regia
$\left( c \right)$ Fixation of nitrogen

Answer 1

Aqua fortis means strong water, it means that it can react with almost all metals. Aqua regia means royal water, and it is used to dissolve metals like gold and platinum. Fixation of nitrogen can be done in three ways and it is used to convert free atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous compounds.

Complete step by step solution:
Here we have to discuss three terms that are aqua fortis, aqua regia, and nitrogen fixation. So we can discuss each term one by one.
$\left( a \right)$ First, let us know what Aqua Fortis is. Nitric acid is known as aqua fortis. Aqua means water and fortis means strong. So Aqua fortis means strong water. Strong water refers to the ability to react with almost all metals. Nitric acid has the molecular formula $HN{O_3}$ , it is called Aqua fortis because it looks like water and has the same viscosity as water. It can also react with metals like silver.
$\left( b \right)$ Now that we know about Aqua fortis, let us discuss Aqua regia. Aqua regia is a solution of hydrochloric acid that is $HCl$ with nitric acid that is $HN{O_3}$ in the ratio $3:1$ . Aqua regia means royal water. It is used to dissolve metals like gold and platinum.
$\left( c \right)$ Fixation of nitrogen is a process in which nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted into different nitrogenous compounds so that it can be used by plants and animals. It can happen in the following three ways:
$\left( i \right)$ By lightning
$\left( {ii} \right)$ By industrial methods
$\left( {iii} \right)$ By bacteria living in the soil, this bacteria is called Rhizobium.

Note: It is important to not get confused between Aqua fortis and Aqua regia. Aqua fortis is nitric acid and Aqua regia is a solution of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid in the ratio $3:1$ . Also, we have learned about the fixation of nitrogen, so it is important to know that $90\%$ nitrogen is fixated by Rhizobium bacteria and it is converted into ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates