Alchemy 3/17

Human Methane: Meet the Microbes of Flatulence

Sylvia Rose

Oct 22, 20245 min read

Human Methane: Meet the Microbes of Flatulence

Methane microbes or prokaryotes are among trillions of microorganisms who call humans home. Methane prokaryotes produce colorless,...

20 views

Methanogens: Microbes of Methane Production

Sylvia Rose

Oct 22, 20245 min read

Methanogens: Microbes of Methane Production

Methane (CH4) is a familiar gas emanating from cow dung. Methane's creators are invisible creatures known today as methanaogens,...

17 views

White Lead Toxic Beauty, Art, Ancient Production

Sylvia Rose

Oct 22, 20246 min read

White Lead Toxic Beauty, Art, Ancient Production

White lead, lead(II) carbonate or PbCO₃, has a long history in art, paint and industry. It's a primary source of white for artists and in...

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Alchemy: Circulation & the Pelican Phantasy

Sylvia Rose

Oct 21, 20243 min read

Alchemy: Circulation & the Pelican Phantasy

Circulation is one of many processes of alchemy. The purification of a substance is achieved through circular distillation in a pelican...

23 views

Arsenic Trioxide: Paris Green Paint Pigment & Pesticide

Sylvia Rose

Oct 21, 20244 min read

Arsenic Trioxide: Paris Green Paint Pigment & Pesticide

Arsenic trioxide is a toxic compound with a a long and complex history, known at least by the time of the ancient Romans. Here's a look...

45 views

Microbial Alchemy: Fermentation, Digestion, Putrefaction

Sylvia Rose

Oct 20, 20244 min read

Microbial Alchemy: Fermentation, Digestion, Putrefaction

Alchemy uses natural processes, often driven by microbial forces. Unseen biological entities include bacteria, amoeba and flagellates....

24 views

Separatory Funnel: Alchemy Lab Equipment

Sylvia Rose

Oct 20, 20244 min read

Separatory Funnel: Alchemy Lab Equipment

A separatory funnel is an essential piece of laboratory equipment used in liquid-liquid extractions, allowing alchemists to separate...

10 views

Alchemy & Heat: Decomposition of Horse Manure

Sylvia Rose

Oct 19, 20245 min read

Alchemy & Heat: Decomposition of Horse Manure

Decomposing horse manure is essential in the alchemical process of digestion. A flask of substances is buried in dung. As if by magic the...

22 views

Digestion & Horse Manure: Alchemy Process

Sylvia Rose

Oct 19, 20244 min read

Digestion & Horse Manure: Alchemy Process

Digestion is the alchemical process of applying steady heat to a substance in a flask or container. Digestion can last hours or days. The...

25 views

Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter

Sylvia Rose

Oct 18, 20244 min read

Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter

Acetobacter bacteria are a group of acetic acid bacteria species integral to natural processes such as turning wine to vinegar. Their...

33 views

Talc (Magnesium Silicate): Beauty, Art & Industry

Sylvia Rose

Oct 18, 20245 min read

Talc (Magnesium Silicate): Beauty, Art & Industry

Talc or hydrated magnesium silicate is a naturally occurring mineral, primarily composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. With its...

21 views

Carbon Steel: Origins, Composition & Uses

Sylvia Rose

Oct 14, 20245 min read

Carbon Steel: Origins, Composition & Uses

Carbon steel is an essential material in various industries, renowned for versatility and strength. Uncover the secrets of carbon steel:...

7 views

Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses

Sylvia Rose

Oct 13, 20243 min read

Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses

Flowers of sulfur, often termed flowers of brimstone, are crumbly pale yellow powders popular with chemists, botanists, and artisans....

51 views

Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction

Sylvia Rose

Oct 13, 20245 min read

Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction

Decay is a fundamental aspect of life cycles. An essential and complex process in the natural world, decay involves breakdown of organic...

6 views

Tungsten: Elusive Metal of Light, Art & Industry

Sylvia Rose

Oct 12, 20245 min read

Tungsten: Elusive Metal of Light, Art & Industry

Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a rare and versatile metal. In nature, tungsten is found in ore form, combined with other elements....

14 views

Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria

Sylvia Rose

Oct 12, 20242 min read

Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria

Molybdochalkos is a blend of copper and lead. It's the standard metal used in the kerotakis, an alchemical creation attributed to Maria...

13 views

Tycho Brahe: Golden Renaissance Astronomer

Sylvia Rose

Oct 12, 20247 min read

Tycho Brahe: Golden Renaissance Astronomer

Tycho Brahe (1546 - 1601) is a Danish Renaissance astronomer and polymath. His observatory Uraniborg is a center of intellect and...

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Sylvia Rose

Oct 10, 20244 min read

Prague: Bohemians of the Renaissance

Prague is an epicenter of medieval and Renaissance Bohemian culture, art and architecture. Capital of today's Czech Republic, Prague has...

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Sylvia Rose

Oct 9, 20241 min read

Experiments With Rust: Going 4 the Gold

Experimenting with rust. Mmm rust. Amazing how many colors it gives out. I'm trying for an earthy gold and a couple other tones. On the...

1 view

Sylvia Rose

Oct 7, 20244 min read

Nitric Acid: Aqua Fortis the Acid Queen

Nitric acid, called the Queen of Acids or aqua fortis (strong water) is a vital chemical compound with significant importance in fields...

25 views