Sylvia Rose
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...
top of page
Sylvia Rose
4 days ago4 min read
Potash: Agriculture, Plant & Garden Health
Potash is a mineral group prized in agriculture, health and human life though history. Potash covers various potassium-rich salts,...
5 views
Sylvia Rose
5 days ago5 min read
Iron(III) Oxide: Creation, Art & Science
Iron(III) oxide or ferric oxide (Fe2O3) yields a striking red color as a pigment, and has a wide range of uses. From industrial...
2 views
Sylvia Rose
6 days ago5 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...
8 views
Sylvia Rose
Nov 18 min read
11 Favorite Drawing Mediums of Artists
Drawing is a creative expression for humans since cave paintings of prehistory. In art, anything making a mark is a drawing tool....
5 views
Sylvia Rose
Nov 14 min read
Sanguine: Red Chalk of Renaissance Masters
Sanguine is a rich, reddish-brown chalk beloved by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo. Creating flesh-like tones in the human form...
5 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 285 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...
10 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 267 min read
Sodium Silicate: Alchemy of Water Glass
Sodium silicate or "water glass" or liquid glass, originates in ancient practices. A chemical compound, sodium silicate is composed of...
12 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 255 min read
Sodium Carbonate: Natural Formation to Modern Application
Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash or washing soda, is prominent across various industries for millennia. It's used in ancient and...
9 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 245 min read
Etch Carnelian Beads Like It's Indus Valley 2500 BCE
The Indus Valley Civilization of the Bronze Age is one of the earliest urban societies, famous for trade, inventiveness and extraordinary...
14 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 185 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...
18 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 176 min read
Paints of the Artist's Palette in Renaissance Europe
Artists of Renaissance Europe cultivate palettes rich in colors sourced from elements both enchanting and lethal. The Renaissance is...
15 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 113 min read
Hildegard von Bingen: Nature, Music & Beer
Hildegard von Bingen is a German Benedictine abbess and polymath often called the Sibyl (Prophetess) of the Rhine. She transcends...
9 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 63 min read
Niter (Saltpeter): Science of Alchemy
Niter or saltpeter (KNO3) is the mineral form of potassium nitrate. A soft substance easy to grind, it creates colorless to white...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 54 min read
Alchemy & the Magnum Opus - Black White Yellow Red
The Magnum Opus or Great Work is the goal of alchemists. From ancient Alexandria and the wisdom of Maria the Prophetess comes a color...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 14 min read
Best Mortar & Pestles for Artists, Chefs, Scientists
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...
14 views
Sylvia Rose
Oct 15 min read
Chemistry of Rust: Minerals & Pigment Colors
Rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel due to exposure to oxygen and moisture is a fascinating display of chemistry....
6 views
Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Chalcedony Gems: Secrets of Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), or silica, holds fascinating secrets within its molecular structure. It's one of the most abundant minerals found...
9 views
Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Carbuncle: Red Stone of Magic & Medicine
Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...
11 views
Sylvia Rose
Sep 295 min read
Magnetite: Ubiquitous Iron Ore with Soul
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....
14 views
bottom of page