acquoso

Acquoso is an Italian adjective meaning watery or containing water. In scientific Italian, it is used to describe substances, solutions, or phases that are aqueous. The term is common in chemistry, biology, environmental science, and related fields. Typical phrases include "soluzione acquosa" (aqueous solution), "fase acquosa" (aqueous phase), and "reagente acquoso" (aqueous reagent). It can also describe water-based solvents, such as "solvente acquoso" (water-based solvent).

Etymology and usage: acquoso derives from acqua, water, with the suffix -oso, which forms adjectives meaning “full of” or “characterized by.” The Latin cognate is aquosus, and the English equivalent is aqueous, though the Italian term follows its own linguistic path through Italian usage.

In practice, acquoso is mainly encountered in Italian-language scientific writing and in bilingual or translated contexts. In English-language texts, the standard term is typically “aqueous.” Italian sources may use acquoso to maintain natural phrasing or to align with terminology in Italian chemical dictionaries and educational materials.

See also: aqueous solution, water-based solvent, Italian scientific terminology.