Скачать или смотреть Dissolving Au in Aqua Regia

I took edible (verified!) gold foil and dissolved it in aqua regia.
The first one took a little bit longer to dissolve but the 2nd foil was completely dissolved in about a minute.

The aqua regia is extremely dangerous, it can explode while preparing, please do not attempt this. The disposal and preparation are both high hazard.

My understanding from organic chemistry is that adding a strong acid to nitric acid makes an NO2+ ion that is able to take electrons from the gold that would otherwise be inert. I'm not sure if the chloride is needed to stabilize the gold (III) by forming a complex ion.

George Hevesy was the scientists who hid the Nobel prizes of Max von Laue and James Franck. The gold was precipitated out of the mixture after German occupation ended and the medals were recast.