An Alchemists Glossary of Terms, Definitions, Formulas & Concoctions

Absorbent Earth: Chalk, marble, and clays. No specific formulas. Generally carbonates, silicates, and sulfates.
Acesunt: Any substance which is slightly acid, or turning sour.
Acetated Earths, Metals, Etc.: Acetates (C₂H₃O₂Ż).
Acetous Acid: Impure Acetic Acid from vinegar.
Acetum: Referring to vinegar, or to a compound made from vinegar, as in "acetum radicatum."
Acid Air (Priestley): Hydrogen Chloride (HCl).
Acid of Ants: Formic Acid (HCOOH).
Acid, Nitri Phlogistic: See Nitrous Air.
Acid of Amber: Succine Acid (C₄H₆O₄). Also written HOOCCH₂CH₂COOH
Acid of Apples: Malic Acid (C₄H₆O₅).
Acid of Arsenic: Arsenic Acid (H₃AsO₄).
Acid of Barberry: Malic Acid.
Acid of Benzoin: Benzoic Acid (C₆H₅COOH).
Acid of Borax: Boric Acid (H₃BO₃).
Acid of Burning Sulphur: Sulfurous Acid (H₂SO₃).
Acid of Four Spar: Hydrofluoric Acid (mixed usually with silicon fluoride) (HF; SiF₄).
Acid of Lemons: Citric Acid (C₆H₈O₇).
Acid of Milk: Lactic Acid (C₃H₆O₃).
Acid of Milk-Sugar: Mucic Acid (COOH(CHOH)₄COOH).
Acid of Molybdaena: Molybdic Acid (H₂MoO₄).
Acid of Nitre: Nitric Acid (HNO₃).
Acid of Phosphorus: Phosphoric Acid (H₃PO₄).
Acid of Salt: Hydrochloric Acid (HCl). (Acidum Salis, Marine Acid, Muriatic Acid, Spirit of Salt). [Scheele]
Acid of Sea-Salt: Hydrochloric Acid, alone, or in a compound (i.e., the ClŻ radical).
Acid of Sorrel: Oxalic Acid (COOH COOH).
Acid of Sugar: Oxalic Acid (COOHCOOH). Also written (COOH)₂.
Acid of Tamarinds: Tartaric Acid (C₄H₆O₆).
Acid of Tartar: Tartaric Acid.
Acid of Urine: Phosphoric Acid (H₃PO₄)
Acid of Vinegar: Acetic Acid (CH₃COOH).
Acid of Vitriol: Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
Acidium Aereum: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).
Acidium Mephiticum: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).
Acidium Pingue: J.F. Meyer's hypothesized "fatty acid."
Acidium Sacchari: Oxalic Acid (COOH COOH).
Acid Vitriolated Tartar: Potassium Hydrogen Sulphate (KHSO₄).
Adopters: Small, circular vessels with a necked opening and a spout opposite. They were connected between the distilling head and the receiver.
Aduration: A union or combination into one.
Ad Siccum: To dryness, as in evaporation to dryness. [Scheele]
Aerated Alkali: Any alkali Carbonate (e.g., K₂CO₃).
"Aerated" Compounds (Bergman): Carbonates (CO₃²Ż).
Aerated Lime: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃).
Aerated Water: Water containing dissolved carbon dioxide.
Aer Hepaticus: Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S).
Aerial Acid: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). Which forms Carbonic Acid, in aqueous solution [Scheele]
Aerugo (Aeruca) (Rust of Copper): See Verdigris.
Aer Urinosum: Ammonia (NH₃).
Aes cyprium: Cyprian Brass or Copper.
Aethiops Mercuriales: See Athiops Mineralis.
Aethiops Mineralis (Aethiops Mercuriales): Black Mercuric Sulphide (H₂S).
Air: Generally, any substance in gaseous state.
Air (Priestley): A gaseous substance which could not be liquified by cold.
Air, Dephlogisticated: Oxygen (O₂).
Air, Fixed: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).
Air, Hepatic: Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S).
Air, Inflammable: Hydrogen (H₂).
Air, Marine Acid: Hydrogen Chloride (HCl).
Air, Mephitic: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).
Air, Phlogisticated: Nitrogen (N₂).
Air, Vital: Oxygen (O₂).
Air of Flour Spar: Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, gas (usually with Silicon Fluoride).
Air of Vitriol: Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂).
Alaunerde: Alumina (Al₂O₃).
Alcali Volatil: Ammonium Hydroxide.
Alcohol Sulphuris: Carbon Disulfide, CS₂; not an alcohol at all, but a volatile liquid that contains Sulfur.
Alcohol: Usually spirit of wine (CH₃CH₂OH) (sometimes any very fine powder).
Alembic: A type of distillation apparatus.
Alembroth, Salt of: A double Chloride of Mercury and Ammonium, Hg₂(NH₄)₂Cl₄^.H₂O; See White Precipitate [Lavoisier]
Alexipharmic: A remedy or preservative against poison.
Algaroth, Powder of: Antimony Oxychloride, SbOCl, an emetic named after its inventor, a Vittorio Algarotti. [Lavoisier]
Alicant Kelp: Crude Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃).
Alizarin: 1,2-Dihydroxyanthraquinone, C₁₄H₈O₄, a red dye long extracted from Rubia tinctorium (madder), synthetically prepared from Anthracene in the 19th century. Click here for structures.
Alizarin , Black: Naphtharazine, 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, C₁₀H₆O₄, a black dye.
Alizarin , Blue (Anthracene blue): A Dihydroxyanthraquinone Quinoline, C₁₇H₉O₄.
Alizarin , Bordeaux (Brown): 1,2,3-trihydroxyanthraquinone, C₁₄H₈O₅, a dye derived from anthraquinone
Alizarin , Red: Alizarin Sodium Sulfonate, NaC₁₄H₇O₇S, the Sodium Salt of the Sulfonic Acid of Alizarin; an acid-base indicator that changes from red to yellow as the pH is raised through 5.5
Alizarin , Yellow: Sodium p-Nitraniline Salicylate, C₁₃H₁₀NO₅, an acid-base indicator that changes from yellow to purple as the pH is raised through 11.1
Alk. Min. Vitriol: Sodium Sulphate (Na₂SO₄).
Alkahest: An alchmeical term invented by Paracelsus to denote a universal solvent. [Boyle]
Alkahest Glauber: See Fixed vegetable alkali (K₂CO₃)
Alkahest of Reapour: See fixed vegetable alkali (K₂CO₃)
Alkahest of Van Helmot (Glauber's Alkahest): concentrated Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Alkalescent: Any substance which is slightly alkaline or turning alkaline
Alkali, Caustic: Hydroxides (OHŻ). See Alkaline Air, Fossil Alkali, Marine Alkali, Mineral Alkali, Vegetable Alkali, Volatile Alkali.
Alkali, Common Mineral: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃ ^. 10H₂O)
Alkali, Concrete Volatile: Ammonium Carbonate (NH4)₂CO₃)
Alkali, Fossil: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
Alkali, Marine: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
Alkali, Mild: Carbonates (CO₃²Ż)
Alkali, Vegetable, Fixed: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Alkali, Vegetable, Mild: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Alkali, Volatile: Ammonia (NH₃)
Alkali of Soda: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
Alkali of Tartar: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Alkali of Wine Lees: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Alkali Veg. Saltium: Potassium Chloride (KCl)
Alkali Veg. Vitriolat: Potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄)
Alkaline Air (Priestly): Ammonia gas (NH₃)
Alkalized Nitre: See fixed nitre
Allay: Alloy
Allonge: See Adopters
Alterant: Anything which alters of changes the state of another
Aludels: A unit of a mutiple-head, earthenware distilling apparatus. Usually used for sublimations.
Alum: Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, KAl(SO₄)₂^.12H₂O; more recently the term also includes salts in which Sodium or Ammonium substitute for Potassium. [Black, Lavoisier]
Alum: Mixed double salts of Aluminum Sulphate with Potassium, Sodium, or Ammonium Sulfate. (Potassium salt, when pure, was most commonly called "Alum."). (Al₂(SO₄)₃ ^. K₂SO₄ ^. 24H₂O); (Al₂(SO₄)₃ ^. (NH₄)₂SO₄ ^. 24H₂O); (Al₂(SO₄)₃ ^. Na₂SO4 ^. 24H₂O).
Alumen: Aluminum Sulphate (Al₂(SO₄)₃.
Alumen Ustum (Burnt Alum): alum dehydrated by heating
Alumina: Aluminum Hydroxide. (Al(OH)₃
Amalgam: Any Mercury alloy
Ammoniacal Nitre: Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
Ammonium Fixatum (Fixed Ammoniac): The residue on heating sal ammoniac with lime, i. e., Calcium Chloride (CuCl₂)
Ammonium Nitrosum: Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
Amyl: Derives from amylum, starch. Some terms (amylase, amylose, amylo-pectin) are still directly related to starch. The following terms come from starch-derived amyl alcohols.
Amyl: A pentyl radical or substituent, C₅H₁₁-.
Amylene: Pentene, C₅H₁₀, usually 1-pentene or 2-pentene; isoamylene is one of the isomers of 2-methyl-2-butene.
Amyl Hydrate: An Amyl (i.e., pentyl) alcohol
Aniline Purple: Mauvein, C₂₇H₂₄N₄, the first aniline dye, 1856 (Perkin's mauve).
Animal Alkali: Ammonium Carbonate [(NH₄)₂CO₃]
Anodyne: A medicine or drug which alleviates pain.
Antichlor: Hydrated Sodium Thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃)
Antimonial Caustic: Antimony Trichloride (SbCl₃)
Antimonium Diaphoreticum: Mixture of Antimony Oxide and Potassium Antimoniate (Sb₂O₃; KSbO₃)
Antimony: Antimony Sulfide (Sb₂S₃) (pre-18th. century). Pure Antimony was called "regulus of antimony."
Antimony: From latin "antimonium" used by Constantinius Africanus (c. 1050) to refer to Stibnite.
Antimony Black: Antimony Trisulfide. Antimony (III) Sulfide, Sb₂S₃, a grey-black powder.
Antimony Bloom, White: Antimony Trioxide. Antimony (III) oxide, Sb₂O₃.
Antimony Glance: Antimony Trisulfide. Stibnite, a native Antimony (III) Sulfide. (See Glance.)
Antimony Red: Antimony Oxysulfide.
Antimony Vermilion, (Red, Flowers): Antimony Oxysulfide. Antimony (III) Oxysulfide, Sb₂O₃^.Sb₂S₃, containing some SbOS₂. See Flowers.
Antizeumic: Opposed to fermentation
Apothecary Measures, Dram (Drachm): Unit of weight equal to 3.888 g. [Black]
Apothecary Measures, Fluid Dram (Drachm): Unit of volume equal to 3.55 mL (60 minims). [Scheele]
Apothecary Measures, Minim: Unit of volume equal to 0.0616 mL
Apothecary Measures, Pound (Libra) Troy: Unit of weight equal to 373.2 g
Apothecary Measures, Scruple: Unit of weight equal to 1.296 g. [Black]
Aqua: Literally water (Latin). In addition to terms denoting a condition or source of water (such as aqua tepida, warm water, or aqua nivialis, water from snow), some aqua terms denote aqueous solutions.
Aqua Fortis: Concentrated Nitric Acid (HNO₃). Literally "strong water". See Nitrous Acid, Spirit of Nitre. [Bacon, Black, Scheele]
Aqua Phaganeda or Phagadenica: A mixture of corrosive sublimate and limewater
Aqua Regia: Literally "Water of the King" or "Royal Water". A mixture of Nitric Acid, HNO₃ and Hydrochloric Acid, HCl capable of dissolving the "Royal Metal" gold. Various proportions were used, depending on the material to be dissolved. Commonly, more Nitric Acid than Hydrochloric Acid was employed. [Bacon, Scheele]
Aqua Secunda: Dilute Nitric Acid , often used for cleaning metals and minerals.
Aqua Tofani: Arsenious Oxide. Extremely poisonous. Used by Paracelsus.
Aqua Vitae: Literally, "Water of Life"; concentrated Aqueous Ethanol, C₂H₅OH, typically prepared by distilling wine [Arnald of Villanova] (Spirit of Wine)
Ardent Spirit: Ethyl Alcohol obtained after repeated distillations (CH₃CH₂OH)
Argentum: Latin for Silver hence the symbol Ag; argentum vivum, literally "Living Silver", is native Mercury [Pliny]
Argillaceous Earth: Clay
Arnaudon's Green, (Plessy's Green): Chromium (III) Phosphate, CrPO₄, a green pigment.
Aromatic Oil: Any "oil" with a sweet or exotic odor. Often an essential oil.
Arsenic: Arsenic Trioxide (As₂O₃)
Arsenic, Red: Arsenic (II) sulfide, As₂S₂ (Realgar, Red Orpiment).
Arsenic, White: Arsenic (III) oxide, As₂O₃.
Arsenical Sal Ammoniac: Ammonium Arsenate (NH₄)HAsO₄.
Ash, Black: Impure Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃).
Ash, Pearl: See Pearl Ash
Ash, Pot: See potash
Ashes of Tin: Stannic Oxide (SnO₂)
Assay: A quantitative determination of the metal in an ore or alloy
Atom: Does not necessarily correspond to the modern picture of the ultimate particle of an element. Dalton, for example, meant something more along the lines of "ultimate particle of a substance"; to him the smallest unit of a chemical compound was a compound atom (molecule in modern terminology), while the smallest particle of a chemical element was a simple atom (now just atom, although several of Dalton's simple atoms turned out to be molecules of elements, such as O₂). (See Molecule.)
Atramentum: Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO₄)
Attrition: The action of rubbing one body against another; mutual friction.
Auripigmentum: Arsenic trisulfide (As₂S₃)
Aurum: Latin for Gold, hence the symbol Au; aurum fulminans (fulminating gold): gold hydrazide, AuHNNH₂, an olive-green powder that can explode on concussion [Black, Scheele]
Aurum Fulminans: An explosive gold compound prepared from gold dissoled in "Aqua Regia" and a solution of Ammonium Carbonate. The exact formula is still in doubt.
Avolation: Evaporation,escape, act of "flying away."
Azote, Asotic Air: Nitrogen (N₂) (Phlogisticated Air; see also Mephitic Air), named because it did not support respiration and was therefore "lifeless". Azote is still the French word for this element. [ Lavoisier, Prout, T. Thomson]
Azure: A blue pigment from cobalt
Azurite: Basic Copper (cubric) Carbonate (2CuCO₃ ^. Cu(OH)₂

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Baker's Salt: Ammonium Carbonate, (NH₄)₂CO₃.
Baking Soda: Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
Balloons: Vessels used to receive condensation products in distillation.
Balneum Mariae: The water bath used for heating more delicate materials such as animal and vegetable matter.
Balsam: Light oily aromatic extracts from trees which cure into resins.
Barilla: Impure soda extracted from soap-wort (impure Sodium Carbonate, Na₂CO₃) [Rey]
Barite, Baryte(s): Barium Sulfate (BaSO₄)
Barium White: Barium Sulfate, BaSO₄.
Baryta, Barytes: Barium Oxide (BaO) Used for the earth from which Barium was eventually isolated, namely Barium Oxide, BaO. [Dalton, Lavoisier, Ramsay, et al.]. Barytes can also refer to barite, a Barium Sulfate (BaSO₄) mineral also known as heavy spar. Baryta can also refer to Barium Hydroxide (caustic baryta) or its hydrate. Barytium is an older name for Barium [Pasteur, Prout].
Basis or Base: Any substance "A" which (1) is dissolved by substance "B"; (2) receives "B" and "fixes" it; (3) forms a compound of "B."
Bath Metal: A 4:1 alloy of Copper and Zinc, respectively.
Bay Salt: Sodium Chloride (NaCl).
Beak: A tube, usually tapered, attached to a vessel to allow the exit of its contents.
Benzine: Ligroin or Petroleum Ether [Rayleigh]; sometimes Benzene, C₆H₆
Berlin Blue: Ferric Ferrocyanide (Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃.
Berlin Green: Ferric Ferricyanide (Fe[Fe(CN)₆].
Berthollet's Salt: Potassium Chlorate (KClO₃).
Bezoardicum Minerale: See Bezoar Mineral.
Bezoar (Bezoar Stone, Bezoardicum Minerale): A counter-poison or antidote, especially a stony calculus from an animal's stomach. [Mayow]
Bezoar Mineral: Antimonic Acid (H₃SbO₄).
Bismuth Corne: Bismuth Oxychloride (BiOCl).
Bitter Cathartic Salt: Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄).
Bitter Earth: Magnesium Oxide or Carbonate (MgO; MgCO₃).
Bittern: Liquor remaining after salt-boiling; a solution containing Magnesium salts and bromides from the preparation of salt from sea-water by evaporation.
Bitter Salt: Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄ ^. 7H₂O).(Epsom Salts)
Bitter Spar: "Dolomite" -Calcium and Magnesium Carbonate (CaCO₃ ^. MgCO₃).
Bitumens: An amorphous grouping of resinous and petroleum products: crude oil, amber, asphaltum, coal.
Black Ash: Impure Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃) mixed with unburnt Carbon (hence "black") and incombustible mineral residue.
Black Copper: Copper Sulfide (CuS).
Black Flux: A mixed product from the deflagration of charcoal, metal filings, nitre, and excess tartar.
Black Jack: See Blend.
Black Lead: Natural graphite of the sort used in pencils.
Black Wad: Manganese Dioxide.
Bleaching Powder: Formed by passing Chlorine Gas (Cl₂) over dry Calcium Hydroxide Ca(OH)₂, hence also called Chlorinated Lime. When dry the substance is mainly Calcium Oxychloride, CaOCl₂; after absorbing moisture, it becomes a mixture of Calcium Chloride, CaCl₂ and Calcium Hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)₂.
Blend: A mineral which looks very much like galena (PbS) and thus sometimes called "false galena." Now known as sphalerite. Primarily Zinc Sulfide (ZnS).
Blind Head: The top portion of a distilling apparatus which is not equipped with a beak or spout.
Blue Copperas: Copper Sulfate.
Blue Salts: Nickel Sulfate
Blue Stone: A native crystalline Copper Sulfate, CuSO₄^.5H₂O.
Blue Vitriol or Bluestone: Cupric Sulfate (CuSO₄)
Bole, or Bolar Earth: Clays which adhere to the tongue when applied dry and which are colored yellow and red by a ferruginous (Iron Oxide) earth.
Bone Ash: Impure Calcium Carbonate. (CaCO₃). Also an impure Calcium Phosphate, Ca₃(PO4)₂
Bone Black: Animal charcoal prepared from bones and blood charcoal.
Borax: Sodium Tetraborate (Na₂B₄0₇ ^. 10H₂O).
Brass: An alloy of Copper and Zinc.
Braustein: Manganese Dioxide (MnO₂).
Brevium: An isotope of Protactinium produced in Uranium decay, namely ²³⁴Pa (half-life = 1.6 min) [Fajans 1913] (Yes, Yes, I Know. It doesn't belong in this section.)
Brimstone: (from German Brennstein "burning stone") Sulphur (S). [Boyle]
Bromcresol Green: C₂₁H₁₄Br₄O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes from yellow to blue as the pH is raised through 5
Bromcresol Purple: C₂₁H₁₆Br₂O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes from yellow to purple as the pH is raised through 6
Bromphenol Blue: Tetrabromophenolsulphonphthalein, C₁₉H₁₀Br₄O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes color from yellow to blue as the pH rises through 3.8
Bromphenol Red: Dibromophenolsulphonphthalein, C₁₉H₁₂Br₂O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes color from yellow to red as the pH rises through 6.5
Bromthymol Blue: Dibromothymolsulfonphthalein, C₂₇H₃₈Br₂O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes from yellow to blue as the pH rises through 6.8.
Bronze: An alloy of Copper and Tin.
Brunswick Green: A basic Copper Oxychloride, CuOCl^.Cu(OH)₂, or a green Copper Carbonate.
Buddling Dish: A flat pan or vat used in washing ores.
Burning Spirit of Saturn: Impure Acetone (CH₃COCH₃).
Burnt Alum: Exsiccated Alum (AIK (SO₄)₂. Product of heating Potassium Alum.
Burnt Lime: See Quicklime.
Butter of Antimony: Deliquescent white crystalline Antimony Trichloride (SbCl₃). Made by Basil Valentine by distilling roasted stibnite with corrosive sublimate. Glauber later prepared it by dissolving stibnite in hot concentrated Hydrochloric Acid and distilling.
Butter of Arsenic: Arsenic Trichloride (AsCl₃); Arsenic III Chloride [J. Davy, Lavoisier]
Butter of Tin: Hydrated Stannic Chloride, SnCl₄^.5H₂O + 1/2 its weight in water.
Butter of Zinc: Zinc Chloride (ZnCl₂) + 1/4 its weight in water.
Butyrum Antimonii: See Butter of Antimony.

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Cadet's Fumming Liquid (Cadet's Lequid): A heavy brown liquid first prepared by the French chemist Louis Claude Cadet de Gassicort. Cadet's liquid is highly toxic, smells strongly of garlic, and spontaneously bursts into flame when exposed to air. It is mainly Cacodyl Oxide, ((CH₃)₂As)₂O, with other Cacodyl compounds such as Dicacodyl, ((CH₃)₂As)₂). Berzelius coined the name Kakodyl (later changed to Cacodyl) for the Dimethylarsinyl Radical, (CH₃)₂As, from the Greek Kakodes (evil-smelling) and Hyle (matter).
Cadmia (Cadmia Fornacea, Cadmia Fornacum ): A term used for various forms of several substances, including Cobalt. Minerals containing Carbonates of Zinc and various compounds of Iron, among other things, were often called cadmia or "calamine." It was also called Tuttia or Tutty. An older name for the common zinc ore Calamine; also applied to a sublimed Zinc Oxide and to a Cobalt Ore. (The element now called Cadmium is often found associated with Zinc.) [Agricola]
Calamine: In its purest form, Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO₃). Two ores of Zinc were known by this name: Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO₃, also known as Smithsonite) and Hydrous Zinc Silicate (Zn₂SiO₄^.H₂O). They were distinguished by Smithson in 1802, but the term continued to be applied to both ores. The Silicate was sometimes distinguished as siliceous or electric calamine. calamine
Calamy (Calamine): Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO₃), sometimes (Zn₂SiO₄ ^. H₂O).
Calcareous Earth: Calcium Oxide, CaO (Lime, Quicklime). [Black, Lavoisier]
Calcareous Earth, Caustic: Calcium Hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂ (Slaked Lime)
Calcareous Earth, Mild: Usually chalk (CaCO₃). Also possible magnesia and/or alumina and/or barytes. Also lime. (Chalk, Carbonate of Lime).
Calcarium Potentiale: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃).
Calcic Liver of Sulfur: Calcium Sulfide (CaS).
Calcination: The action of fire on mineral substances in which the reactants (a) often lose a noticeable amount of weight, (b) acquire; a white color, (c) become friable (easily crumbled or pulverized). Almost always, a very high heat is employed. Formation of a Calx, i.e., oxidation of a metal, often by roasting. [Bacon, Black, Rey]
Calcined Metals: Oxides.
Calcite: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃)
Callus: Any hard formation on the surface of a liquid or another solid.
Calomel: Mercurous Chloride (Hg₂Cl₂) Also known as Mercury (I) Chloride. Purgative, made by subliming a mixture of Mercuric Chloride and metallic Mercury, triturated in a mortar. This was heated in a iron pot, a crust of calomel formed on the lid which was ground to powder and boiled with water to remove the very poisonous Mercuric Chloride.
Caloric: a postulated Elastic Fluid associated with heat. [Avogadro, Davy, Dalton, Lavoisier, et al.]
Calx: Plural Calces. Any powder obtained by strongly heating a substance in air. Almost always a Metal Oxide (Earth), the result of roasting a metal or mineral. [Rey, Stahl] Sometimes used for a particular calx, namely Lime.
Calx Acetosell: Calcium Oxalate (CaC₂O₄)
Calx Aerata: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃)
Calx Citrata: Calcium Citrate (Ca₃(C₆H₅C₇)₂^. 4 H₂O).
Calx Molybdaenata: Calcium Molybdate (CaMoO₄)
Calx of Antimony: Antimony Trioxide (Sb₂O₃)
Calx of Gold: Not a true compound, but small discolored pieces of gold formed after exposure to relatively high heat.
Calx of Stone: Calcium Oxide (CaO).
Calx Plumbi Aerata: See White Lead.
Calx Saccharata: Calcium Oxalate (CaC₂O₄).
Calx Tartarisata: Calcium Tartrate (CaC₄H₄O₆^. 4H₂O).
Calx Viva: Quicklime (CaO).
Camphire (Camphora, Canfora, Etc.): See Camphor.
Camphor: An aromatic extract from the sap of certain trees found in Brazil and the Far East.
Caput Mortum: Most commonly signifies any solid residue remaining after dry distillation. Sometimes used for Ferric Oxide (Fe₂O₃)
Carbolic Acid: Phenol, C₆H₅OH.
Carbonate of Lime: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃).
Carbonic Acid: Formerly referred to Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). (Fixed Air) [Dalton; but also Arrhenius, Maxwell, Mendeleev, Rutherford, J. J. Thomson et al.]
Carbonic Oxide: Carbon Monoxide (CO). [Dalton, Gay-Lussac, Maxwell, Ramsay, T. Thomson et al.]
Carburetted Hydrogen Gas: Methane (CH₄) [Prout]
Caro's Acid: Permonosulfuric acid (i.e., Peroxymonosulfuric acid), H₂SO₅, first prepared by Heinrich Caro in 1898.
Cassel Yellow: Lead Oxychloride, PbCl₂^.2PbO (Mineral Yellow).
Cassiopeium: Auer von Welsbach's name for lutetium, Lu.
Cathartic Salt of Glauber: Sodium Sulphate (Na₂SO₄).
Cathode Rays: Sometimes Kathode Rays in 19th century English translations: streams of electrons issuing from the cathode of an evacuated tube. They were identified as what are now called electrons late in the 19th century. [Perrin, Rutherford, J. J. Thomson] Hydroxides.
Caustic Alkalis: Hydroxides (-OHŻ).
Caustic Baryta: Barium Hydroxide (Ba (OH)₂^. 8H₂O).
Caustic Calcareous Earth: Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂).
Caustic Ley (Caustic Lees, Etc.): See Caustic Lye.
Caustic Lye: Since "lye" had several meanings, this phrase was often used to refer specifically to the three strong mineral (NaOH, KOH, and NH₄OH) bases and usually meant Potassium Hydroxide (KOH).
Caustic Ponderous Earth: Hydrated Barium Hydroxide (Ba (OH)₂ ^. 8H₂O).
Caustic Marine Alkali: See Caustic Soda. Sodium hydroxide. Made by adding lime to natron.
Caustic Soda: Sodium hydroxide. Made by adding lime to natron.
Caustic Volatile Alkali: Ammonium Hydroxide.
Caustic Wood Alkali: Caustic potash. Potassium Hydroxide. Made by adding lime to potash.
Causticuni antimoniale: Probably Antimony Trichloride (SbCl₃)
Cawk: Barium Sulphate (BaSO₄)
Celsius Scale: Temperature scale devised in the early 18th century by a certain Elvius from Sweden (1710), a Christian of Lyons (1743), and the botanist Linnaeus (1740), apparently independently. Temperatures on this scale are denoted by °C. The normal freezing point of water is 0°C and the normal boiling point of water is 100°C. The scale was named after Anders Celsius who proposed a similar scale in 1742, but designating the freezing point to be 100 and the boiling point to be 0. The scale is sometimes also called the Centigrade scale. (See Fahrenheit Scale, Kelvin Scale, Rankine Scale, Réaumur Scale.)
Cementation: Any process by which a solid is caused to penetrate and combine with another substance.
Cendres Gravellees: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₂).
Cerusa (Ceruse) (Cerussa): See White Lead.
Cerusse Antimony: White Antimony Trioxide (Sb₂O₃).
Chalk: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃). (Carbonate of Lime, Mild Calcareous Earth). [Lavoisier; Priestley; T. Thomson]. Acid of chalk is Carbon Dioxide, CO₂ (Carbonic Acid, Fixed Air) [Lavoisier]
Chalybeate (Water): Any water which is impregnated or flavored with Iron.
Chalybs cum Sulphure Preparatus: Ferrous Sulfide (FeS).
Chalybs Tartar (Tartarified Iron): A substance produced by the action of Cream of Tartar on Iron filling. Probably (FeC₄H₄O₆).
Chamber Crystals: Nitrosyl Sulfate, NO^.HSO₄, formed in lead chambers of sulfuric acid manufacture.
Chile Nitre: Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃)
Chile Saltpeter: Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃)
Chrome Green: Mixture of Chromic Oxide, Cr₂O₃, and Cobalt Oxide.
Chrome Orange: Mixture of chrome yellow and chrome red.
Chrome Red: Basic Lead Chromate, PbCrO₄^.PbO.
Chrome Yellow (Paris Yellow, Leipzig Yellow): Lead Chromate, PbCrO_4.
Chromic Acid: Chromium Trioxide, Chromium (VI) oxide, CrO₃, or its formal hydrate, H₂CrO₄
Chymical: Sometimes the modern term alchemical is more accurate than chemical. Similarly chymist often means alchemist. [Boyle]
Chymists Spirit: Any solution of Ammonia (NH₄OH).
Cineres Clavellati: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃).
Cinnabar or Vermillion: Mercuric Sulfide (HgS).
Cinnabar of Antimony: Mercuric Sulphide (HgS), when produced by heating together Mercuric Chloride and crude Antimony (Antimony Trisulfide).
Circulation: Cyclic distillation or refluxing.
Citrated Alkalies: Citrates.
Clays: Any stiff but malleable and sticky mineral solid.
Clyssus: Any vapors from the detonation of nitre with other substances which have been condensed and collected, as in clyssus of Sulphur.
Coagulation: Reducing fluids to solid form.
Coagulum: A precipitate.
Cobalt: Cobalt ore. Pure Cobalt was regulus of cobalt (CoAsS). Named by the copper miners of the Hartz Mountains after the evil spirits the "kobolds" which gave a false copper ore.
Cobalt, Black: A native, earthy Cobalt
Cobalt, Blue: A pigment containing Cobalt (II) Oxide, CoO; Zinc Oxide, ZnO; and chalcedony, an amorphous quartz, SiO₂.
Cobalt, Green: A green pigment, solid solution of Cobalt (II) and Zinc Oxides, CoO and ZnO
Cobalt, Red: Erythrite, a native Cobalt Arsenate, Co₃(AsO₄)₂^.8H₂O
Cobalt, Violet: Cobalt (II) Phosphate, Co₃(PO₄)₂^.2H₂O, a pigment in oil paints.
Cobalt, Yellow: Cobalt (III) Potassium Nitrite, K₃Co(NO₂)₆^.xH₂O
Cochineal: A scarlet dye made from the insect Coccus cacti, native to Mexico and Central America.
Coction: Any process in which heat was applied over a long period. This term usually implied less strenuous applications of heat than calcination, but it was used more broadly than decoction.
Cohobation: Repeated distillations, or any cyclic process in which a liquid is vaporized and condensed as, for example, in refluxing.
Colcothars: Any colorless Sulfates (Vitriols) in which the water of hydration was removed (-SO₄).
Colcothar: Ferric Oxide (Fe₂O₃), by-product from Sulfuric Acid, H₂SO₄ manufacture (Paris red) [Lavoisier]
Colcothar Vitrioli: Red Oxide of Iron (Fe₂O₃ ^. FeO) produced by heating Green Vitriol.
Collature: Filtration through a relatively coarse filter, e.g., a hair sieve, woolen cloth, etc.
Colophony: A resinous substance from distillation of light oil from turpentine.
Columbium: An older name for Niobium, Nb
Common Ammoniac: Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl).
Common Caustic: Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) or, less often, Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).
Common Magnesia: Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃).
Common Mineral Alkali: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃).
Common Nitre (Saltpeter): Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃).
Common Salt: Sodium Chloride (NaCl).
Concentration: Any process in which the solute/solvent ratio is increased. Less often, this term was used to describe the separation of; a substance A from a substance B joining it to a third substance, C.
Concreted: Solidified, congealed, coagulated, or (as verb) to unite, combine physically, as in solidity. Very rarely used for chemical combinations.
Concrete Volatile Alkali: Ammonium Carbonate ((NH₄)₂CO₃).
Congo, Blue, (Diamine Blue, Niagara Blue, Trypan Blue): C₁₇H₁₂N₃O₇S₂Na₂, A blue dye and antimalarial compound.
Congo, Red: C₃₂H₂₂N₆O₆S₂Na₂, a red azo dye and acid-base indicator that changes from blue to red as the pH rises.
Congo Yellow: An orange-yellow dye, C₂₄H₁₈O₄N₅SNa
Copperas, See Vitriol.: Originally Blue Vitriol. Also Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO₄ ^. 7H₂O). Later sometimes used for the entire class of Vitriols (Sulfates).
Copperas, Blue: Copper Sulfate, CuSO₄
Copperas, Green: A native Iron (II) Sulfate, FeSO₄^.7H₂O
Copperas, White: Coppiapite (native Fe₄S₅O₁₈^.H₂O)
Copperas, Yellow: Zinc Sulfate, ZnSO₄.
Copper Glance: Cuprous Sulphide ore.
Corneous (Horn) Lead: Lead Chloride (PbCl₂).
Corning: Any process in which a whole or coarsely ground substance is granulated.
Cornu Cervi: Impure Ammonium Carbonate ((NH₄)₂CO₃).
Corpuscle: Generally (and still) a small particle; in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a competing name for the electron. [J. J. Thomson]
Corrosive Sublimate: Mercuric Chloride (HgCl₂). First mentioned by Geber, who prepared it by subliming Mercury, Calcined Green Vitriol, Common Salt and Nitre. [Scheele]
Corundum: Aluminum Oxide. (Al₂O₃)
Coruscate: To give off intermittent flashes of light, to sparkle.
Coupier's Blue: Azodiphenyl, C₂₄H₁₈N₂, a blue dye.
Cream of Lime: Fine precipitate of Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) from water.
Cream of Tartar (Tartar): Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate (KHC₄H₄O).
Creech: Calcium Sulfate (CaSO₄).
Cremor: Any scum gathering at or near top of a liquid. Also, a thickening or change in color or consistency on top or within a liquid.
Cresol, Purple: m-cresolsulfonphthalein, C₂₁H₁₈O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes from red to yellow as the pH rises through 2.
Cresol, Red: o-cresolsulfonphthalein, C₂₁H₁₈O₅S, an acid-base indicator that changes from yellow to red as the pH rises through 8.
Creta Alba: Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate) (CaSO₄ ^. 2H₂O).
Crocus: Any solid of a saffron or reddish color, as in Crocus of Mars. A yellow or reddish powdered calx (Oxide)
Crocus of Antimony (Antimonii, Metallorum): An impure antimony oxysulfide
Crocus of Copper: Cuprous Oxide, Cu₂O.
Crocus Martis: Ferric Oxide (Fe₂O₃).
Crocus of Iron: Ferric Oxide. Also referenced as Iron Sesquioxide or Iron Peroxide. [Scheele].
Crocus of Mars: Ferric Oxide.
Crocus Saturni: Red Lead (minium) (Pb₃O₄).
Crookes Tube: A highly exhausted electrical discharge tube, named for William Crookes, who experimented with such tubes.
Crude Antimony: Natural Antimony Sulfide (Sb₂S₃).
Crude Flux: Nitre and tartar mixed in any proportion without detonation.
Crystalline Earths: Any solid which is (1) not attached in acids, (2) friable, (3) hard enough to strike fire with steel.
Crystallized Alkali: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃).
Crystallized Verdigris: Cupric Acetate (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂ ^. H₂O).
Crystallized Volatile Alkali: Ammonium Carbonate (NH₄)₂CO₃.
Crystallization: Any process in which crystals are formed from a liquid. Usually accomplished through concentrating and/or cooling a solution.
Crystals of Copper: Mostly Copper Acetate (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂).
Crystals of Silver (Lunar Crystals): Silver Nitrate, usually as a powder (AgNO₃).
Crystals of Venus: Copper Acetate (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂).
Crystal Violet: Hexamethyl-p-rosaniline hydrochloride, C₂₅H₃₀N₃Cl, an acid-base indicator that changes from green to blue as the pH passes through 1.0.
Cubic Nitre: Crystallized Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃).
Cucurbit: The lower part of an alembic. Shorter, more squat and ovoid than a matrass.
Cuprite: Red Cuprous Oxide ore.
Cyprian Vitriol: Copper Sulfate (CuSO₄).

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Damps: Any dangerous vapors in caves, mines etc.
Decantation: To a separate the supernatant liquid from a solid precipitate by pouring the liquid off, being careful that all of the solid remains in the vessel.
Decoction: Continuous application of boiling heat to a reaction mixture.
Decompounded: Doubly compounded, or composed of three or more substances.
Decrepitation: Rapid physical decomposition of some crystals when heated. Characterized by a crackling noise.
Deflagration: To cause a substance to burn rapidly, with flame.
Deliquescence: The property some crystalline substances have of dissolving spontaneously in liquid absorbed from the air.
Deliquium: Change of salt from a solid to a fluid state by contact with air only.
Demi-Metal: See Semi-Metals
Dephlegmation: To remove water from a solution, usually one of an acid or alcohol. There is a sense of purifying about the term, as opposed to simple concentration.
Dephlogisticated Acid of Salt: Chlorine (Cl₂).
Dephlogisticated Air: Oxygen (O₂).
Dephlogisticated Calx of Iron: Ferrous Oxide (Hydroxide) (FeO or Fe(OH)₂).
Dephlogisticated Marine Acid: Chlorine (Cl₂). (Oxymuriatic Acid). See Marine Acid. [Scheele]
Depuration: To free from impurities, purify.
Desquamation: The process of removing scaly crusts which form on a surface.
Detonation: Any rapid chemical reaction accompanied by noise and often heat and light, e.g., explosions.
Diaphoretic: Any substance which induces perspiration when administered to a patient.
Diaphoretic Antimony: Mixture of a Antimony Oxide and Potassium Antimonate (Sb₂O₃; KSbO₃).
Didymium: A mixture of Praseodymium, Pr, and Neodymium, Nd, believed to be an element until 1885. [Mendeleev, Newlands].
Digestion: The process in which heat is continuously applied to a substance without boiling it (usually in open vessels).
Digestive Salt: Potassium Chloride (KCl).
Digestive Salt of Sylvius: Potassium Chloride (KCl).
Diminished Nitrous Air (Priestly): Nitrous Oxide (N₂O).
Distillation: A process in which all or some portion of a substance is vaporized and then condensed and collected.
Distillation Per Ascensum: Distillation with the collecting vessel above the heated vessel.
Distillation Per Decensum: Any distillation where the collecting vessel is below the heated vessel.
Distillation Per Obliquium: Distillation in a retort used for substances of (a) relatively low vapor pressure and (b) other properties that make distillation difficult, e.g., honey.
Distillation with Addition: Adding some substance prior to distillation that will aid the process by (1) loosening the desired volatile product chemically from its compound; (2) fixing the product not desired, thus retaining it in the vessel; (3) by adding a volatile substance desired, thus making the fixed substance volatile (addition of properties).
Diuretic Salt: Potassium Acetate (KC₂H₃O₂).
Division: Any process in which mixtures are separated into their homogeneous components by mechanical means.
Docimacy: Assaying
Dram, Drachm: See Apothecary Measures.
Dry Way: Term used for all operations that are conducted without adding a liquid medium. Reactions done through fusion, however, are still regarded in the dry way.
Dulcification: Any process in which a caustic substance is rendered less corrosive.

Dutch Oil (Dutch Liquid, Oil of the Dutch Chemists): Ethylene Chloride, C₂H₄Cl₂, first prepared by the action of Chlorine on Ethylene (hence Olefiant Gas) in 1794 by four Dutch chemists: Johann Rudolph Deimann, Adrien Paets van Troostwyck, Anthoni Lauwerenburgh and Nicolas Bondt. [Wurtz].
Dutch White: Mixture of one part of White Lead to three of Barium Sulphate, (BaSO₄).

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Earth: Usually a Carbonate, Oxide or Hydroxide. Earths were originally classified by physical properties as absorbent, crystalline, and dry, insipid, not inflammable, fusible solids which often recovered their original texture after fusion. A Metal Oxide (Calx); see Calcareous Earth, Magnesian Earth, Siliceous Earth. [Dalton, Priestley, Scheele, T. Thomson]
Earth, Calcareous, Caustic: Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂).
Earth, Mild Calcareous: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃).
Earth, Mild Magnesian: Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃)
Earth, Silicous: Silica (SiO₂)
Earth Rhubarb: Calcium Oxalate (CaC₂O₄)
Earthy Salts: Compound of acids and earths.
Eau Forte: (Strong Water) Usually concentrated Nitric Acid (HNO₃), sometimes (1) spirit of wine (Ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH), (2) Caustic Soda solution.
Ebullition: The agitating, bubbling action of a liquid that is undergoing rapid, active boiling.
Edulcorated Quicksilver: Mercurous Chloride (Hg₂Cl₂)
Edulcoration: The washing of a solid (often a precipitate) with water to free it from soluble impurities such as salts and acids. Because of the latter, there are overtones of sweetening, purification, and softening with this term.
Elaeosaccharum: A mixture of an oil and sugar. Used to make oils soluble in water, wines, spirits, etc.
Elastic Fluid: Usually a descriptive term for gas (Air) [Black, Dalton, Gay-Lussac, Lavoisier, T. Thomson et al.]; however, certain elastic fluids were postulated that correspond to no actual material (Caloric, Ether, Phlogiston). A gas is an "elastic fluid," elastic in that it is compressible in a reversible way and fluid in that it flows.
Electuaries: Medicinals in the form of a paste or conserve.
Elixation: The action of boiling or stewing.
Elutriation
Separation and purification of a mixture of granular solids with water by (a) decanting, (b) straining, or (c) washing.
Emanation: A radioactive gas (Radon) produced in the decay of other radioactive elements. Specifically, Thorium Emanation (also Thoron) is ²²⁰Rn (half life = 55 s) produced from the decay of Thorium; Radium Emanation is ²²²Rn (half life = 3.8 d) produced from the decay of Radium; Actinium Emanation (also Actinon) is ²¹⁹Rn (half life = 4 s). See Niton and Table of Isotopes.
Emetic: Any substance that induces vomiting.
Emetic Powder: Potassium Antimonyl Tartrate (KSbC₄H₄O₇ ^. (1/2) H₂O)
Emplastrum Simplex: Impure Lead Oleate (Pb(C₁₈H₃₃O₂)₂)
Empyreumatic: Tasting or smelling or burnt organic matter.
Empyreumatic Oils: Liquid oils that (a) are acid, (b) are soluble, (c) do not retain the taste and odor of the substance from which they are obtained, (d) have a taste and/or odor of burnt organic matter.
Enfiladid Ballon: A spherical vessel with opposed, necked openings.
English Laxative Salt: Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄)
English Salt: See Bitter Salt
Ens Martis: A mixture probably consisting of Iron Chlorides and Ammonium Chloride. Used as a medicine.
Ens Veneris: A mixture probably consisting of Copper Chlorides and Ammonium Chloride. Used as a medicine.
Epsom Salts: Magnesium Sulfate, MgSO₄^.7H₂O; See Bitter Salt.
Essay: See Assay
Essence: Any essential oil.
Essential Oil: Any oil that smells the same as the vegetable from which it was obtained and has a low boiling point (below that of water)
Essential Oil of Turpentine: The most volatile portion of turpentine.
Etain de Glace: Bismuth (Bi)
Ether: In the 18th century, Alykyl Chlorides and Nitrates often were confused with true ethers, such as Ethyl Ether (CH₃CH₂-O-CH₂CH₃).
Ether, Chemistry: Originally the name of a volatile compound resulting from the action of an acid on alcohol. The current meaning is an organic compound whose formula is ROR', where R and R' are alkyl or aryl groups; especially Diethyl Ether, C₂H₅OC₂H₅. Some ethers in the older sense include: Acetic Ether, (Ethyl Acetate, C₂H₅O₂C₂H₃); Muratic Ether, (Ethyl Chloride, C₂H₅C); Nitric Ether, (Ethyl Nitrate, C₂H₅NO₃. Also referred to as Aether Nitri [Scheele]); Nitrous Ether, (Ethyl Nitrite, C₂H₅NO₂. Also referred to as Spirit of Nitre); Sulfuric Ether, (Diethyl Ether, C₂H₅OC₂H₅ [Gay-Lussac]).
Ether, Physics (Aether, Luminiferous Ether): A hypothetical Elastic Fluid postulated to support the transmission of light. [Clausius, Röntgen, J. J. Thomson ].
Ether of Benzoin: Ehtyl Benzoate (C₉H₁₀O₂)
Ether of Nitre: Mainly Ethyl Nitrite (C₂H₅NO₂)
Ether of Vinegar: Ethyl Acetate (C₄H₁₀O₂)
Ether of Vitriol: Ethyl Ether (C₄H₁₀O)
Ethiops Mineral, Aethiops Mineral: Mostly black Mercury (I) Sulfide (Hg₂S).
Ethyl, Aethyle: The hydrocarbon radical C₂H₅-.
Ethyl Gas, Ethyl Gasoline: Leaded gasoline, i.e., gasoline including Tetraethyllead, (C₂H₅)₄Pb, as an additive.
Ethyl Red: According to Hackh's dictionary, C₂₃H₂₃N₂, a Quinoline dye and acid-base indicator that changes from colorless to red as the pH rises through 5.4; current chemical catalogs say C₁₇H₁₉N₃O₂.
Euchlorine: Name given by Humphry Davy to a bright green gas he believed to be a compound of Chlorine and Oxygen; in fact, it seems to have been mixture of Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorine. [H. Davy, J. Davy].
Evaporation: Any process in which the liquid portion of a solution or mixture is vaporized, often with the help of heat.
Everitt's Salt: Potassium Ferrous Ferrocyanide, K₂Fe[Fe(CN)₆]
Exalt: To make more spiritous, volatile, or generally more active; activate.
Exsiccate: To dry; remove moisture.
Exhalation: When parts of substances are separated by heat from the solid and fly off into the air. Used as a tool to obtain fixed parts as well as volatile parts. This includes calcination, distillation, etc.
Expression: To separate a component from organic matter or any other solids or semisolids by squeezing the material in a press. A mechanical rather than chemical means of separation.
Extemporaneous Alkali: See white flux.
Extraction: To separate one substance from others by using solvents.
Extract of Lead: Impure Lead Acetate (Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂).
Extract of Mars: Solid Ferrous Tartrate (FeC₄H₄O₆).
Extravasation: The escape of an organic fluid (e.g., blood, sap) from its proper vessels into surrounding tissues.

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Fahrenheit Scale: The temperature scale devised in 1717 by D. G. Fahrenheit and denoted by °F. The normal freezing point of water is 32°F and the normal boiling point of water is 212°F. (See Celsius Scale, Kelvin Scale, Rankine Scale, Réaumur Scale.)
Faints: The second identifiable, thin, and light liquid fraction from distillation.
Fearce: To pulverize or mascerate.
Febrifugal Salt: Potassium Sulphate (K₂SO₄).
Febrifugal Salt of Sylvius: Potassium Chloride (KCl).
Ferment: A substance actually fermenting, inclined to ferment, or used to cause fermentation, e.g., yeast.
Ferro Prussiate: Potassium Ferricyanide.
Ferrum: Latin for Iron, hence the symbol Fe
Fetid Oil: Any oil substance that was empyreumatic, i.e., had the odor of burned animal matter.
Filtration: To separate a liquid from a particulate solid by passing the liquid through a porous material, e.g., cloth or paper.
Finery Cinder: Iron Oxide (Fe₃O₄).
Fire Air (Scheele): Oxygen (O₂).
Fixed Air: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).
Fixed Alkali (Soda): Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃).
Fixed Alkali Salt: Solid Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃).
Fixed Ammoniac (Fixed Sal Ammoniac): Calcium Chloride (CaCl₂).
Fixed Nitrate: Usually Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃); sometime Potassium Sulfate (K₂SO₄).
Fixed Sulphur of Antimony: Oxides of Antimony, probably primarily the Trioxide (Sb₂O₃) which forms when Antimony Ore (Sb₂S₃) is heated in air. Antimony Calx.
Fixed Vegetable Alkali: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃).
Fixity: The degree of solidity of a substance as measured by the ability of that substance to resist the action of fire. The opposite of volatility.
Flores: See Flowers.
Flores ac Vitrum Antimony: Probably Antimony Trioxide (Sb₂O₃) with small amounts of Antimony Trisulfide (Sb₂S₃).
Flores Antim: See Flowers of Antimony.
Flores Benzoini: Benzoic Acid (C₆H₅COOH).
Flores Martiales (Ens Veneris): Impure Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl). Also includes iron filing used in the reaction, with possibly some Chlorides of Iron. Also Ferriammonium Chloride, NH₄FeCl₄. See Flowers.
Flores Martis: Anhydrous Ferric chloride.
Flores Sulfurous: See Flowers of Sulfur.
Flores Viridis Aeris: Crystallized Cupric Acetate (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂).
Flores Zinc: See Flowers of Zinc.
Flowers (Flores): Any solid, often an Oxide, product of sublimation. Usually a powder.
Flowers of Antimony: Antimony Trioxide (Sb₂O₃). Also referrenced as Antimony Oxysulfide, Sb₂O₃^.Sb₂S₃ (also called Antimony Red);
Flowers of Arsenic (White Arsenic): Arsenious Oxide (As₂O₃). [Lavoisier, Priestley] Also called Pompholix.
Flowers of Benjamin: See Flowers of Benzoin.
Flowers of Benzoin: Benzoic Acid (C₆H₅COOH).
Flowers of Phosphorus: Volatile Oxides of Phosphorous (P₂O₃; P₂O₅).
Flowers of Sulfur: Sublimed and condensed sulfur vapors (S). Light yellow crystalline powder, made by distilling sulphur.
Flowers of Tin: Tin Oxide, SnO₂[Lavoisier, Priestley] Also called Pompholix.
Flowers of Zinc: Volatile Zinc Oxide (ZnO). [Lavoisier, Priestley] Also called Pompholix.
Fluor (as adjective): Flowing, an adjective indicating that the substance cannot be made solid, e.g., flour volatile alkali,; or, in referring to a mineral, a solid that is easily fusible.
Fluor Acid Air: Silicon Fluoride (SiF₄).
Fluorspar (Fluor Spar, Fluor): Calcium Fluoride (CaF₂). Fluor was originally applied to readily fusible minerals, particularly those containing Fluorine, espeically Fluorite (Calcium Fluoride, CaF₂). Fluorspar for CaF₂ dates to the late 18th century; Fluorite to the 1860s.
Focus of a Furnace: That part of a furnace where the fuel is actually burned.
Foliated Earth of Tartar: Potassium Acetate (KC₂H₂O₂).
Fossil: Any mineral substance.
Fossil Alkali: Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃). (Common Mineral Alkali, Marine Alkali, Soda)
Fossil Cadmia: A Cobalt mineral, probably Cobaltite (CoAsS).
Fossil Oil: Clear, distilled crude oil.
Frigorific: Having property of producing cold.
Focus: A substance which can act as a (usually opaque) surface coloring agent.
Fulginosity: Soot or any black deposit from flames of oily substances.
Fulminate: A compound containing the CNO^- ion, named because such compounds are explosive (from Latin, fulminare, to strike with lightning.
Fulminating Gold: Made by adding Ammonia to the Auric Hydroxide formed by precipitation by potash from metallic Gold dissolved in Aqua Regis. Highly explosive when dry.
Fulminating Silver: Silver Nitride, very explosive when dry. Made by dissolving Silver Oxide in Ammonia.
Fulmination: Any very rapid reaction which produces heat, light, and noise; e.g., explosions.
Fuming Liquor of Boyle: Ammonium Polysulfide ((NH₄)₂S_y).
Fuming Liquor of Libavious: Stannic Chloride solution (SnCl₄).
Funiculus: An invisible membrane postulated to hold up a column of mercury in the Torricellian experiment [Linus].
Fusion: The changing a solid body to a liquid by the action of fire.

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Galena: Lead sulfide (PbS). Plumbic sulphide. Chief ore of lead. The slag remaining after refining lead.
Galley: A type of furnace in which several vessels are heated side by side simultaneously.
Galls: Parasitic growths, commonly found on oaks, which, when dried, ground, and dissolved were useful indicators for iron.
Gentle Calx of Lead: Lead Nitrate (Pb(NO₃)₂.
German Ash: Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃).
German Potash: Probably a mixture of Potassium Carbonate and Oxide.
German Vitriol: An ore with both Copper and Ferrous sulfates (CuSO₄, FeSO₄).
Galacial Oil of Antimony (Butter of Antimony): Antimony Trichloride (SbCl₃).
Glacial: Glass-like, crystallized. This usage persists in terms such as glacial Acetic Acid and glacial Phosphoric Acid.
Glance: A mineral with a glassy appearance.
Glance, Antimony: See Antimony Glance.
Glance, Bismuth: Bismuthinite, Bi₂S₃
Glance, Iron: Hematite, Fe₂S₃
Glance, Nickel: A native arsenic sulfide, Ni₂AsS.
Glance, Silver: See Silver Glance.
Glance, Tellurium: Nagyagite, a lead sulfotelluride that also contains gold and antimony.
Glass of a Substance: The fused form of the substance, especially if semitransparent.
Glass of Antimony: Antimony Oxysulfate (Sb₂O₂SO₄). Prepared by fusion of Antimony Sulfide, Antimony, and an Oxide of Antimony. Impure Antimony Tetroxide, obtained by roasting Stibnite. Used as a yellow pigment for glass and porcelain.
Glass of Borax: Fused borax.
Glass of Lead: Any fused lead compound (especially ceruse, minium, or litharge).
Glauber's Alkahest (Alkahest of Van Helmont): Concentrated Potassium Carbonate solution (K₂CO₃(aq)).
Glauber's Sal Ammoniac: Ammonium Sulphate (NH₄)₂SO₄).
Glauber's Salt (Sal Mirabilis): ("sal mirabile" - wonderful salt) Sodium Sulphate (Na₂SO₄^.10H₂O). Named for Johann Glauber who prepared it.
Glauber's Spirit of Nitre: Fuming Mitric Acid (HNO₃).
Globuli Martiales: Iron powder boiled in Cream of Tartar solution. Presumably contains some Ferrous Tartrate (FeC₄H₄O₆). A pharmaceutical preparation of Iron.
Glucinum (Glucinum): Beryllium (Be). [Berzelius, Marignac, Newlands, Ramsay].
Golden Spirit of Sulphur: Ammonium Sulphide ((NH₄)₂S).
Grain: Unit of mass. The English grain was equal to 1/7000 the mass of a pound avoirdupois, or 0.0648 grams; the French grain was 1/9216 of a Livre or about 0.0531 grams. For late 18th. century French system, see Livre. [J. Davy, Lavoisier, Priestley, Proust].
Grain Alcohol: Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol.
Grain Vitriol: Ferrous Sulfate.
Graves: The residue left after extracting oils from animal fat by means of heat and moderate pressure.
Gravid: Heavy or dense.
Green Salt: Uranium (IV) fluoride, UF₄.
Green Vitriol (Vitriol of Mars): Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO₄).
Gros: Unit of mass in late 18th. century France; see Livre.
Grume(s) (Grumous): (1) Viscous, clotty; (2) heap(s), clusters.
Guaic (Guyac, Guacium): A tropical wood sometimes used for the resinous extract of that wood.
Gum: Resinous or musiloginous extracts from plants, shrubs, or trees.
Gum Acacia: Like gum arabic, but thought to be distinguishable from it; the dried resinous exudation of certain varieties of the acacia tree.
Gum Arabic: The dried exudation of certain varieties of the acacia tree.
Gum Benzoin: The dried resin of the tree Styrax benzoin.
Gum Dragon: See Gum Tragacanth.
Gum Lac: Dark-red resionous incrustation produced in certain trees by the insect Carteria lacca. When refined by certain processes it beomes "shell-lac" or "shellac."
Gum Tragacanth (Gum Dragon): Dried gummy exhudation of the tree Astragalus gummifer and related speices.
Gypseous Earths: Used for both gypsum or the "earth" contained in it , i.e., Calcium Oxide. Sometimes the Oxide was confused with Carbonate as the "earth" of gypsum.
Gypseous Substances: Solid substances which (a) are not soluble in acids, (b) are not hard enough to strike fire from steel, (c) when mixed with water may form a paste which hardens into a solid, and (d) becomes powdery when exposed to fire.
Gypsum: Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate (CaSO₄ ^. 2H₂O).

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Halitus: Matter in a very subtile form, as a "vapor" or "exhalation." Like these, a "halitus" was often hypothesized if a phenomenon was ascribed to material causes, but no material could be detected by known means.
Hard Oil: Boiled Linseed Oil.
Hartshorn (Hart's Horn): Ideally, the horn of the male European red deer, but the horns of other deer species were acceptable substitutes.
Hartshorn Calcined to Whiteness: Hartshorn subjected to heat over a long period and developing into a white substance.
Hartshorn Prepared Philosophically: Much like hart's horn calcined to whiteness, but usually with less heat and for a longer period.
Head: The upper part of a distillation apparatus. Also, the bulb or other enlargement at the end of a tube.
Heavy Carburetted Hydrogen: Ethylene (C₂H₄).
Heavy Earth: Barium Oxide (BaO). Also Barium Hydroxide and Barium Carbonate.
Heavy Inflammable Air: Used at various times for (a) Carbon Monoxide (CO), (b) water gas (a mixture of H₂ and CO), or (c) Methane (CH₄).
Heavy Spar: Barium Sulfate (BaSO₄).
Hellebore: A plant of the genus Helleborus. Usually Helleborus niger, the so-called "Christmas rose." The poisonous extract was used in dilute preparations as a medicinal in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Hemlock: The vulgar name for the poisonous plant Conium maculatum and/or its extract.
Henna: The plant Lawsonia inermis. The dried and powdered shoots and leaves were used as a dye or, with suitable medium, a cosmetic.
Hepar (Hepars): This Latin word for liver referred to reddish-brown (i.e., liver-colored) metal Sulfides (-S²Ż). See Sulphuret.
Hepar Antimonii: Antimony Trisulfide (Sb₂S₃).
Hepar Calcis: Calcium Sulfide (CaS).
Hepar Sulphuris (Liver of Sulphur): Produced by heating Potassium Carbonate with sulphur. Not a true compound, it was a metastable mixture of Potassium Polysulfides and Sulfate (K₂S, K₂S₂, K₂S₃, K₂S₄, K₂S₅, K₂SO₄). Hepar Sulphuris was synonym either for potassa sulphurata (a mixture of various compounds of Potassium and Sulfur made by fusing Potassium Carbonate and Sulfur) [Cavendish, Priestley, Stahl] or, in homeopathic contexts, for Calcium Sulfide, CaS.
Hepatic Air: Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H₂S).
Hessian Crucible: A type of crucible made in Hesse, Germany, of a mixture of native clay and fine sand. Such crucibles were noted for being able to withstand sudden changes in temperature.
Homberg's (Sedative) Salt: Boric Acid (H₃BO₃ (ortho); H₂B₄O₇ (tetra)).
Horn (Corneous) Lead: Lead Chloride (PbCl₂).
Horn Mercury: Chloride of Mercury (HgCl₂; Hg₂Cl₂).
Horn Silver (Luna Cornea): Fused Silver Chloride (AgCl). Argentum Cornu, a glass like ore of Silver Chloride.
Horn Tin: Stannous Chloride (SnCl₂).
Hungarian Vitriol: Usually Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO₄) but also used for Copper Sulfate (CuSO₄).
Hydrargyrum: Latin for Mercury, hence the symbol Hg
Hydromel: Mixture of honey and water, usually in equal proportions. Ferments into "mead."