Alchemical studies produced a number of substances, which were later classified as particular chemical compounds or mixtures of compounds. For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... There are millions of possible objects that can be described in science, too many to create common names for every one. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ...
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Aqua Fortis - nitric acid, can be formed by 2 parts saltpetre in 1 part (pure) oil of vitrol. (Historically, this process could not have been used, as 98% oil of vitrol was not available?)
Aqua Ragia/Spirit of Turpentine/Oil of Turpentine/Gum Turpentine - turpentine, formed by the distillation of pine tree resin.
Aqua Regia (Latin: "royal water") - a mixture of aqua fortis and spirit of salt.
Calomel/horn quicksilver/horn mercury - mercury(I) chloride, a very poisonous purgative formed by subliming a mixture of mercuric chloride and metallic mercury, triturated in a mortar and heated in an iron pot. The crust formed on the lid was ground to powder and boiled with water to remove the calomel.
Caustic Potash/Caustic Wood Alkali - potassium hydroxide, formed by adding lime to potash.
Caustic Soda/Caustic Marine Alkali - sodium hydroxide, formed by adding lime to natron.
Verdigris - carbonate of copper or (more recently) copper acetate. The carbonate is formed by weathering copper. The acetate is formed by vinegar acting on copper. One version was used as a green pigment.
White lead- carbonate of lead, a toxic pigment, produced by corroding stacks of lead plates with dilute vinegar beneath a heap of moistened wood shavings. (replaced by blanc fixe & lithopone)
In texts that are written according to this view, the cryptic alchemical symbols, diagrams, and textual imagery of late alchemical works typically contain multiple layers of meanings, allegories, and references to other equally cryptic works; and must be laboriously "decoded" in order to discover their true meaning.
Alchemical systems often postulated that each of the seven planets known to the ancients "ruled" or was associated with a certain metal.
Alchemical philosophy, symbols and methods have enjoyed something of a renaissance in post-modern contexts, such as the New Age movement.