Sylvia Rose
Fermentation: Yeast & the Active Microworld
Fermentation is among the oldest of alchemical processes. It's used intentionally by c. 8000 BCE to create honey mead, a blend of...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 35 min read
Ethyl Alcohol: Science of Solvents & Booze
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages. A clear, colorless liquid, it has a chemical formula of...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 23 min read
Glauber: Preparation of a Golden Spirit of Wine
Preparation of a Golden Spirit of Wine, a medicinal potion, is a recipe from the writings of Dutch-German alchemist Johann Glauber . He's...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 14 min read
Ammonia: Formation, Hazards & Reactions
Ammonia is a simple yet mysterious versatile compound vital to life on Earth. Explore its formation, historical significance, potential...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 14 min read
Spirit of Wine of the Wise: Alchemy Recipe
Spirit of wine, or spirits of wine, is a common alchemical ingredient in medical remedies and recipes of chemical transformation. This...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 294 min read
Hydrogen Peroxide: Chemistry, Production, Risks
Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) is one of the most versatile chemicals today due to powerful oxidizing properties and a wide range of...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 283 min read
Litharge: Toxic Lead Mineral of Science & Art
Litharge (PbO) is a lead oxide mineral with an alpha and beta structure. It's among the most prominent of the lead oxides known due to...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 285 min read
12 Renaissance Medicines & Treatments
In the Renaissance new healing treatments come to light, many based on ancient medicine. In the 17th and 18th century these include...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 273 min read
Fulminating Silver: Dangerous Explosives in Alchemical Science
Fulminating silver is a term applicable to a number of silver base d explosives which "fulminate" or detonate easily and violently,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 263 min read
Arcanum Duplicatum: Double Secret of Alchemy
Arcanum Duplicatum is known by many names: sulphate of potash, arcanite, potash of sulfur, potassium sulfate. An inorganic compound, it...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 253 min read
Fulminating Gold: Blowing It Up in Alchemy
Fulminating Gold ( aurum fulminans ) is the first high explosive known, recorded in Western alchemy c. 1585. Sebald Schwaerzer is the...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 254 min read
Arcanum Joviale: Alchemy of Sudorific Sweat
Arcanum Joviale is an alchemy medicine made of metal salts, taken to induce sweating. While the term sudorific is introduced in 1626,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 225 min read
Antimony (Stibnite, Kohl) Ancient Metal of Science & Beauty
Antimony (stibnite, Sb) is one of the elements known by the ancients, a primary source of black powder kajal or kohl. With its silvery...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 193 min read
Lunar Caustic AgNO3: Lapis Infernalis of Alchemy
Lunar caustic ( lapis infernalis ), Höllenstein (hellstone) or silver nitrate ( argentinium nitrium ) is esteemed by alchemists of the...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 185 min read
5 Waters of Ancient Alchemy: Aqua Caustic
The Waters of Alchemy are ravenous acids, miraculous solvents and corrosive fluids vital to alchemical process. Not for children ....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 176 min read
10 Alchemical Metals - Ancient Metals of Alchemy
Ten metals are used in alchemy since its ancient emergence. They are antimony, bismuth, copper, gold, iron, lead, quicksilver (mercury),...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 164 min read
Paracelsus: Renegade Renaissance Physician
Renegade physician Paracelsus is one of the most dramatic figures of the European Renaissance. Doctor, alchemist, astrologer,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 137 min read
Divine Water: Sulfuric Acid in Alchemy
Divine Water, oil of vitriol or sulfuric acid, scientifically denoted H₂SO₄, is commonly used in alchemy experiments. A mineral acid, it...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 86 min read
Almadén Mines: Ancient Mercury Extraction
The Almadén Mines in central Spain have an infamous past driven by profit and greed. The deadly history of ancient Almadén revolves...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 45 min read
Lucrezia Borgia: Exploring the Enigma
Lucrezia Borgia is an enigmatic figure of the Italian Renaissance (c. 1350 - 1550 AD). This period sees revival of art, culture and...
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