Niter or saltpeter (KNO3) is the mineral form of potassium nitrate. A soft substance easy to grind, it creates colorless to white...

The kerotakis (Greek: κυροτακίς) is an ancient alchemical apparatus of multiple purposes, primarily heating substances and collecting...

Michael Sendivogius (1566 - 1636) is a Polish savant of alchemy, medicine and chemistry. He designs mines and furnaces, travels widely...

The Magnum Opus or Great Work is the goal of alchemists. From ancient Alexandria and the wisdom of Maria the Prophetess comes a color...

Sophie Brahe (1556 - 1643) is born into a noble Danish family. Sister of astronomer Tycho Brahe, Sophie is destined for greatness. She...

The Book of Comarius is a mysterious tome dedicated to Cleopatra the Divine, or Cleopatra the Alchemist of Alexandria. In it, Comarius, a...

Cleopatra the alchemist is active in Alexandria, Egypt c. 300 AD. She may be contemporary to Zosimos , who mentions her in his writings....

Tartrate crystals appear on the bottom of a wine glass or in a bottle of grape juice, created by a reaction of tartaric acid. Reference...

Preparation of a Golden Spirit of Wine, a medicinal potion, is a recipe from the writings of Dutch-German alchemist Johann Glauber . He's...

Lixiviation or leaching is an ancient process alchemy still used today in making tea, extracting dyes and ores. Lixivium is a general...

Ammonia is a simple versatile compound vital to life on Earth. Here's the info on its formation, historical significance, potential...

The mortar and pestle as a unit is about 35,000 years old. With many varieties available today it's important to choose the best mortar...

Spirit of wine, or spirits of wine, is a common alchemical ingredient in medical remedies and recipes of chemical transformation. This...

Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...

Magnetite is an iron ore formed below the earth's surface. As one of the primary iron ores it keeps the wheels of progress turning....

Iron oxides create beautiful pigments in colors from warm yellow and orange to deep reds, brown, black and even green. Besides industry...

Precious stones are made by economic supply and demand. First, however, they're formed by fire and pressure for millions of years. Prized...

In the Renaissance new healing treatments come to light, many based on ancient medicine. In the 17th and 18th century these include...

Born in Ireland in 1627, Robert Boyle plays a significant role in the 17th century "scientific revolution". His groundbreaking...

Distilling essential oil can be used for aromatherapy, in cuisine, beauty, healing or to set a mood. Here's the methodology to capture...