Alone, neither hydrochloric nor nitric acid will dissolve the "noble metals" gold and platinum, but a mixture of the two will. So to this potent corrosive the medieval alchemists gave the name aqua regiaroyal water. Last week in Brooklyn, fumes from royal water knocked out scores of factory workers and firemen. left several in hospitals, threatened with severe aftereffects.
In the Williamsburg section, an American Cyanamid Co. tank truck backed up to the Radio Receptor Co.'s plant (which makes electronic equipment) to deliver 500 gallons of nitric acid. Driver Benjamin Sidla hooked up his hose to a pipe indicated by employees, started...
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