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Mercury II Oxide: Red & White of Alchemy
In practical alchemy, mercury II oxide (HgO) is often called the "Red Precipitate," with its compound Mercuric Amidochloride (Hg(NH2)Cl),...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 18, 20247 min read


Diana's Tree: Silver Crystals of Lunar Caustic
Diana's Tree ( Arbor Diana or Dianae ) is one of the most intriguing creations of alchemy. Its delicate branches of crystallized silver...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 12, 20244 min read


Iodine (I): Origin, Properties, Uses & Facts
Iodine (I) is an essential element in biology, industry, science and health. It's known for its intense violet gas and strong odor....

Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20243 min read


Scheele's Green: History's Most Toxic Pigment
Scheele's Green is a rich, vibrant green. Its color appeal surpasses that of the copper carbonate paints of the late 18th century and...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20245 min read


Chlorine (Cl): Properties, Hazards & Uses
Chlorine (Cl) is a vital element in nature, used in industry as a disinfectant. Characterized by its highly reactive habits, chlorine is...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 8, 20245 min read


Carl Wilhelm Scheele: Poisonous Chemistry
Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742 - 1786) is a self-taught German-Swedish chemist whose work has strong impact on chemical sciences of the day....

Sylvia Rose
Nov 8, 20245 min read


Copper(II) Sulfate: Blue Vitriol, Chalcanthite
Copper (II) sulfate CuSO4 yields a vivid color and widespread applications. Also known as blue vitriol in alchemy and chalcanthite in...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 7, 20245 min read


Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass
Lye or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a vital part of human history. Also called caustic soda, lye is a white odorless solid. A strong...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 5, 20244 min read


Glycerin (Glycerol): Darling of Cosmetics, Health & Science
Glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is a simple polyol compound with the chemical formula C3H8O3. This colorless, odorless,...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 4, 20246 min read


Silent Destroyers: Microbes of Concrete Corrosion
The microbes of concrete corrosion include bacteria, fungi and algae. Their purpose in life is to break down and decompose matter, and...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 2, 20245 min read


Metal Salts: Ancient History to Modern DIY
Metal salts are compounds created from metals and acids. In history and today they enjoy uses in beauty, natural health, chemical...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 2, 20246 min read


Mosaic Gold: Alchemy of a Forgotten Art
Mosaic gold is also known to alchemists as aurum musivum or aurum mosaicum due to its mottled formation. Forgotten in the data fields...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 31, 20243 min read


Chloroauric Acid: Gold Salts & Extraction
Chloroauric acid H[AuCl4] is a yellow solution created in the 18th century. A gold(III) salt, chloroauric acid is an innovative compound,...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 31, 20243 min read


Artisan Perfumery: Four Degrees of Fragrance
Perfumes are grouped according to their strengths. Every fragrance has a purpose, from a fresh splash of rose or mint to mysterious...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 30, 20243 min read


DIY Perfume Artisans: Top, Middle & Base Notes
DIY perfumes are all about crafting a unique signature scent or giving fragrance as a gift, the benefits of aromatherapy and expression...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 30, 20243 min read


Alchemy of Perfumes: Scents, Cologne, Rose Water
Perfumes are prized in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The word “perfume” comes from Latin per fumum ,...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 30, 20243 min read


Science of Alchemy: Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is a powerful chemical. Used from old alchemical practices to modern times, this colorless, pungent-smelling liquid is...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 29, 20245 min read


Renaissance Purgatives & Ancient Remedies
The Renaissance brings a unique approach to medicine. Based on the Four Humors theory of health the Galenic way, purging the body of...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 29, 20245 min read


Powder of Algaroth: Antimony Oxychloride Purgative
Antimony oxychloride or Powder of Algaroth is a compound first appearing in 15th century Europe. During the Renaissance Powder of...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 29, 20244 min read


Radioactive Gas: Radon (Rn) Noble & Deadly
Radon (Rn) is part of the noble gas family. Colorless, odorless, and tasteless, radon presents unique characteristics and effects on...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 28, 20245 min read
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